Skip to main content

Full text of "The Improvement Era"

See other formats 


SEPTEMBER.  1911 


No.  11 


IMPROVEMENT 


ORGAN  OF  THE  PRIESTHOOD  QUORUMS  AND  THE  YOUNG 

MENS    MUTUAL    IMPROVEMENT    ASSOCIATIONS 

OF    THE    CHURCH    OF    JESUS   CHRIST 

OF   LATTER-DAY    SAINTS. 


Published  Monthly  al  Salt  LakeCily  by  the  Cfeneral  Bartd 


Before  toe  Smoke  Clears  Away 

On  your  fire-stricken  shop,  factory,office 
or  store,  you  can  resume  business  if  in- 
sured with  us.  No  long  unnecessary 
delays  in  adjusting,  no  haggling  over 
terms;  but  prompt  payment  of  losses 
every  time.  It's  to  our  interest  to  get 
you  set  up  in  business  again— we  can 
insure  you  again. 

Home  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Utah 
HEBER  J.  GRANT  &  Co.,  General  Igts. 

30-26  South  Main  St.,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


BOTH  PHONES,  351. 

Jos.  Wm.  Taylor 

Utah's  Leading  Undertaker 
and  Licensed  Emh^lmer. 


Fine   Funeral  Chapel,  Fiivate 
Parlor.Show  Booms  and  Morgue 

OFFICE  OPEN  DAY  AND  NIGHT 

21,  23,  25   South  West  Temple  Street 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


Established  1889. 


Capital,  $200,000 


Utah 

Commercial  and  Savings 

Bank* 


4$ 


Interest,  computed  semi-annually,  on 
0  Savings  Deposits. 

Commercial  Banking  in  all  its  branches. 
Accounts  of  Banks  and  Individuals  solicited. 
Customers  assured  the  best  accommodations 
consistent  with  conservative  and  safe  banking. 

Wm.  F.  Armstrong,  Byron  Groo, 

"*  President.  Cashier. 

(Whan  writing*  te  Advertisers 


Scnic  Lioi  if  Tht 

Wifl. 


THROUGH 
PULLMAN  AND 

TOURIST 
SLEEPERS  TO 

DENVER, 
ST.  LOUIS 
AND 
QHIQAGO 


For  Folders,  Booklets,  etc.,  ad- 
dress    I.  A.  BENTON,  C.A.P.D., 
Salt  Lake  Cltv,  Utah 


The  STATE  BANK 

/~V  Tj»      T  fT*  A   T_T  Salt  Lake  City.  Utah 
\J  J?        yj    -I-  All  Established  1890. 


THIS  Bank  solicits  the  accounts  of 
banks,  firms  and  individuals,  and 
extends  to  such  customers  every 
reasonable  courtesy  and  facility. 


Joseph  F.  Smith,  Prest,         Chas.S.  Burton,Cashier 
Anthon  H.  Lund,F.Pres.     H.T.McEiuan,Asst.Cash 


please  msntloa  tke  BRA.) 


We  are  ready  to  fill  your  order 
for  the  best  Knitted  Garments 
for  fall  and  winter  wear. 

COTTON   GARMENTS. 

No.  51K — Bleached — Light  weight,  fine  weave..    Postpaid $1.00 

No.  52B — Bleached — Medium  weight Our  Price     .97 

(Postage  on  52B  16c  extra  per  garment.) 

No.  57 — Unbleached,  excellent  material    Our  Price  $1.00 

No.  901 — Unbleached,  medium  heavy Our  Price     1.20 

No.  9B — Bleached,  extra  quality Our  Price     1.35 

No.  Ill — Unbleached,  fleece  lined Our  Price     1.40 

No.  11  IB— Bleached,  fleece  lined Our  Price     1.65 

(Postage  20c  extra  per  pair  on  Nos.  57,  901,  9B,  111  and  111B. 

WOOL  AND  COTTON  GARMENTS. 

No.  500— A  SUPERIOR  GARMENT  FOR  THE  MONEY,  40% 

WOOL,  STRONG  AND  DURABLE. . . .  Our  Special  Price  $1.69 

No.  501— Extra  good  quality,  50%  Wool Our  Price  $2.00 

No.  525 — Warm  and  comfortable,  serviceable Our  Price     2.39 

No.  58A — Fine  weave,  Australian  Wool Our  Price     4.40 

(Postage  20c  extra  on  Nos.  500,  501,  525  and  58A.) 

No.  535— Extra  heavy,  80%  Wool,  well  made Our  Price     2.79 

(Postage  on  No.  535  24c  extra.) 
GIVE  BUST,  HEIGHT  AND  WEIGHT,  AND  WE  GUARANTEE 
A  FIT.     Money  refunded  if  not  satisfied. 

Always  send  postage  with  order.     Samples  of  garment  material  for- 
warded on  request. 


Authorized  Portraits   of 

Joseph  Smith  and 

Hyrum  Smith 

at  prices  within  the  reach  of  all.  Suit- 
able for  the  Home,  Church,  and  for 
any  organization. 

Size  11  by  14  inches. 
Sepia  Bromide   Style,  a  rich  brown 
finish. 

EACH,  POSTPAID,  $1.50. 
Two  pictures — one  of  each  person — 
OUR    SPECIAL    PRICE,    POST- 
PAID, $2.85. 
Black  and  white  Bromide — an  excel- 
lent production. 

EACH,  POSTPAID,  $1.00. 
Two  pictures — one  of  each  person — 
OUR  SPECIAL  PRICE,  POST- 
PAID, $1.80. 
Pictures     framed     at    money-saving 
prices.     Write  for  price  list. 


WEST'S  MAIL  ORDER  HOUSE 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH. 
Send  us  your  name  and  we  will  mail  postpaid  our  new  fall  Catalog. 
Ready  for  delivery  Sept.  15. 


(When  writing-  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  ERA.) 


Agricultural  College  of  Utah 

A  NATIONAL  AND  STATE  INSTITUTION 


rm 

-•£&     .i-d 

i'  j 

5T 

j 

>.-  p  #^ 

fSf^-B-  i:i 'iW-:^' 

-  jiOB     t|o 

*j 

■in  li'i'YMm 

The  Campus  in  Summer  Time.     A  View  Along  College  Avenue  with  th» 
Tower  of  the  Main  Building  in  the  Background. 

The  Home  of  Practical  Education 

A  COLLEGE  DEDICATED  TO  THE  GREAT  WORK  OP  DIGNIFYING  AND 
ELEVATING  THE  INDUSTRIES  AND  AGRICULTURE, — OF  UNITING 
LEARNING    AND    LAROR. 

THE  SCHOOL  OF  AGRICULTURE  offers  four-year  college  courses  in 
Agronomy,  Horticulture,  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying,  Agricultural 
Chemistry,  and  Economic  Entomology. 

THE  SCHOOL  OF  HOME  ECONOMICS  offers  (1)  a  special  four-year 
High  School  course  in  Home  Economics;  (2)  four-year  co^ege  courses  in 
Domestic  Science  and  Domestic  Arts. 

THE  SCHOOL  OF  AGRICULTURAL  ENGINEERING  offers  a  four-year 
college  course  in  Irrigation  and  Drainage,  Road  Building,  Hydraulics,  and 
the  construction  of  Farm  Buildings. 

THE  SCHOOL  OF  COMMERCE  offers  (1)  two  special  four-year  High 
School  courses  in  Commerce;  (2)  four-year  college  courses  in  Finance,  Ac- 
counting, and  Industrial  Management. 

THE  SCHOOL  OF  GENERAL  SCIENCE  offers  a  four-year  college  course 
in  General  Science. 

THE  SCHOOL  OF  MECHANIC  ARTS  offers  a  special  four- year  High 
School  course  which  may  equip  a  man  for  carpentry,  forging,  machine  work 
or  other  trades. 

THE  HIGH  SCHOOL  DEPARTMENT  offers  besides  courses  mentioned 
above  a  regular  High  School  course  which  will  fit  students  to  enter  any  of 
the  above  schools,  or  other  scientific  institutions. 

All  college  courses  lead  to  a  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science;  all  other 
courses  to  certificates. 

The  Agricultural  College  of  Utah  is  an  Institution  of  Service.  Its  ideal 
is  t»  give  the  y»ung  men  and  women  of  Utah  a  training  for  industrial  elli- 
cieney,  and  a  capacity  for  eitizcnshlp  in  Its  high  sense. 


LOGAN, 


UTRH 


(When  writing  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  ERA.) 


"The  Open  Road,"  a  serial  story,  by  John  Henry  Evans,  will  begin  in  the 
October  number  of  the  ERA.  It  is  a  tale  of  achievement,  a  fascinating  nar- 
rative of  adventures,  love,  and  business  success,  in  seventeen  chapters,  giving 
the  plain  and  inspiring  story  of  a  boy  who  came  to  be  something  from  a  mere 
possibility  in  an  orphanage.  Subscribe  now.  This  story  alone  is  worth  your 
while.    You  get  the  ERA  for  $2  and  a  Manual  free. 

The  Michigan  alleged  ancient  relics,  with  a  series  of  eighteen  original 
photographs,  taken  direct  from  the  alleged  finds  will  be  scientifically  treated 
by  Dr.  James  E.  Talmage  in  a  profusely  illustrated  article  in  the  October 
ERA.  Send  your  subscription  now.  The  1911-12  Senior  or  Junior  Manual 
free,  $2. 

There  is  a  lesson  in  the  Junior  Manual  on  Money.  When  you  save,  look 
around  for  a  safe  bank  to  keep  your  money  in.  The  message  of  the  Utah 
Savings  &  Trust  Co.,  (see  the  back  cover  of  the  manual)  tells  the  story.  They 
are  safe  and  trustworthy. 

Missionaries  and  their  friends  who  wish  trunks,  bags,  suit-cases,  etc.,  will 
find  specially  kind  and  considerate  treatment  at  Hulbert  Bros.  They  have  a 
message  in  the  Manual.  They  have  patronized  your  publication,  return  the 
compliment.     It  will  be  to  your  advantage. 

Elder  Joel  Richards,  Preston,  near  Liverpool,  England,  August  1,  says: 
"The  ERA  is  always  a  welcome  visitor  among  the  elders.  It  contains  much 
interesting  and  profitable  writing  as  well  as  many  valuable  instructions  from 
Church  headquarters.  We  are  always  glad  when  the  ERA  reaches  us  each 
month." 

"The  Boy  Pioneers,"  by  Director  Eugene  Roberts  of  the  Brigham  Young 
University,  Department  of  Physical  Training,  a  talk  on  what  the  "Mormon" 
boy  hungers  for  and  how  to  give  it  him,  in  the  October  Era.  Of  vital  im- 
portance to  parents  and  M.  I.  A.  officers. 

Alfred  Osmond  will  have  a  poem  in  the  October  ERA,  entitled  "The 
Train  of  Human  Progress." 

IMPROVEMENT  ERA,  SEPTEMBER,  1911. 

Two  Dollars  pes  annum  with  Manual  Ful 
Entered  at  the  Post  Office,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  as  second  class  matter. 


Joseph  F.  Smith,  1  E(jitorg        Heber  J.  Grant,  Business  Manager 

Edward  H.  Anderson,      J  Moroni  Snow,  Assistant 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

The  First  Home  of  the  Deseret  Museum Frontispiece 

The  Deseret  Museum.    Illustrated Dr.  James  E.  Talmage 953 

The    Book   of    Mormon    Originally   Written    in 

Hieroglyphics.    Ill Thomas  W.  Brookbank 983 

Word  Pictures  of  the  Yellowstone.  IV Alfred  Lambourne  989 

From  Range  to  Rostrum.  II.  A  Story Leila  Marler  Hoggan 990 

That  Comrade  of  My  Dreams.     Illustrated  Poem  H.   R.   Merrill 998 

A  Day  With  Carry  Nation  (Illustrated) Nephi  Anderson   ....... 1000 

It's  the  Word  to  the  Living  that  Tells.    A  Poem  Lon  J.  Haddock 1008 

The  Drama Willard  Done 1009 

Athletics    Lyman  R.  Martineau 1014 

Find  Your  Best  and  Higher  Self Nephi  Jenson  1017 

From  Nauvoo  to  Salt  Lake  in  the  Van  of  the 

Pioneers.  VII Moroni  Snow 1020 

Little  Problems  of  Married  Life.  Ill William  George  Jordan 1024 

Editors'  Table— On  the  Form  of  Prayer President  Joseph  F.  Smith. .  1032 

Loyalty George  H.  Brimhall 1035 

Hints  to  the  Editors 1037 

Messages  from  the  Missions 1040,  1062 

Passing  Events   1043 

Preliminary  Programs  and  Social  Affairs 1047 


DAYNES-BEEBE  INAUGURAL 
SALE  PIANO  CLUB 


500  MEMBERS 


500  PIANOS 


These  Pianos  sell  all  over  the  United  States 
for  $400 

SPECIAL  CLUB  PRICE 
$277.50 

We  save  you  $1  22.50     Terms:   $5.00  Cash,  $1 .25  per  Week 


THE   DAYNES-BEEBE   PIANO    CLUB    PLAN   TOLD    IN   A   FEW 
BRIEF  SENTENCES. 

1.  The  value  of  the  Daynes-Beebe  Club  Piano  is  $4C0. 

2.  The  price  to  Daynes-Beebe  Club  members  is  $277.50. 

3.  The  terms  are  $5.00  cash  when  you  join,  then  $1.25  per  week  for 
218  weeks. 

4.  The  piano  will  be  delivered  when  you  join  or  later,  as  you  wish. 

5.  The  weekly  payments  of  $1.25  begin  when  the  piano  is  delivered. 

6.  Every  instrument  is  guaranteed,  without  reserve,  for  ten  years. 
There  are  no  "ifs"  or  "ands"  in  the  guarantee — just  a  straight-out  guar- 
antee as  strong  as  we  know  how  to  make  it  in  writing. 

7.  IF,  AFTER  30  DAYS'  TRIAL,  THE  PIANO  IS  NOT  SATIS- 
FACTORY WE  WILL  GIVE  YOU  YOUR  MONEY  BACK. 

8.  If  the  piano  IS  SATISFACTORY  after  30  days'  use,  the  Club 
Member  HAS  ELEVEN  MORE  MONTHS  in  which  to  satisfy  himself 
as  to  the  character  of  the  piano.  If  it  does  not  then  prove  to  be  everything 
that  he  expects,  he  has  the  privilege  of  exchanging  it  without  ONE 
PENNY'S  LOSS  for  any  other  instrument  of  equal  or  greater  value  that 
we  sell — (and  we  sell  over  thirty  different  representative  makes). 

9.  If  a  Club  Member  dies  during  the  life  of  his  contract  we  will  im- 
mediately send  a  RECEIPT  IN  FULL  to  his  family  for  the  instrument. 

10.  A  beautiful  stool  to  match  the  piano  and  latest  style  scarf  are 
included  without  extra  cost. 

WRITE    FOR   COMPLETE   DETAILS. 

DO   IT   NOW— Make   Selection   while  we   have   Complete  Stock. 

SPECIAL  ATTENTION  GIVEN  TO  MAIL  ORDERS. 


(When  writing  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  1SKA.) 


Y  derivation,  the  word  "Museum" 
means  a  home  or  temple  of  the 
Muses,  hence  a  place  for  study  and 
contemplation.  The  educational  val- 
ue of  museums  is  now  very  generally  recognized ; 
and  institutions  of  the  kind  are  maintained,  some 
of  them  on  an  elaborate  scale,  by  great  univer- 
sities, as  also  by  cities,  states,  and  nations.  At 
the  present  time  museums  vie  with  libraries  as 
factors  of  public  education. 

Needless  to  say  the  Deseret  Museum  makes 
no  pretension  of  equality  with  the  famous  muse- 
ums of  world-wide  repute  and  influence,  nor  with 
any  of  the  large  institutions  supported  by  public 
funds  or  by  great  endowments.  Nevertheless  it 
professes  to  be  an  institution  of  genuine  worth, 
active,  virile,  and  ever-growing.  It  was  estab- 
lished when  the  people  were  in  poverty;  it  has 
grown  with  the  commonwealth;  and  today  it  is 
an  institution  of  which  city  and  state  may  well  be 
proud.  It  represents  the  sum  of  the  past  and  is 
of  assuring  promise  in  our  future  development. 
"In  its  present  condition  the  Deseret  Museum  is 
at  once  a  consummation  and  a  beginning." 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA. 


Vol.  XIV.  SEPTEMBER,  1911.  No.  11 


The  Deseret  Museum. 

BY   DR.   JAMES    E.     TALMAGE,    DIRECTOR. 


The  institution  now  known  as  the  Deseret  Museum  had  its 
beginning  in  the  latter  part  of  1869.  Its  creation  was 
primarily  due  to  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  John  W.  Young,  son 
of  the  pioneer  leader,  Brigham  Young.  In  its  inception  the 
Museum  was  virtually  a  private  establishment,  owned  and  con- 
trolled by  its  founder;  nevertheless,  from  the  first  it  was  oper- 
ated and  maintained  for  the  public  good  rather  than  for  purposes 
of  private  gain. 

The  original  plan  was  that  of  a  combined  menagerie  and 
museum,  and  during  the  early  years  of  the  institution's  history 
the  live-animal  exhibits  excelled  all  the  other  collections,  if  not  in 
number  and  variety  at  least  in  public  interest  and  favor. 

The  first  curator  of  the  Museum  was  Guglielmo  Giosue  Ros- 
setti  Sangiovanni,  who  acknowledges  that  he  was  usually  called 
Sangio— and  this,  he  naively  explains, — "for  short."  He  was 
born  April  27,  1835,  at  London,  England,  and  is  today  a  hale  and 
active  citizen  of  Salt  Lake  City.  During  the  spring  and  summer 
of  1867,  Mr.  Sangiovanni  had  traveled  in  the  capacity  of  inter- 
preter with  a  party  then  touring  the  principal  countries  of  Europe 
under  the  leadership  of  John  W.  Young.      In  a  statement  written 


954 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


in  July,  1911,  Mr.  Sangiovanni  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the 
conception  of  the  museum  plan  as  follows: 

In  the  fall  of  '69  John  W.  Young  and  I  were  talking  over  our  trav- 
els, and  it  was  suggested  that 
it  would  be  a  good  plan  to  start  a 
museum  and  menagerie  as  a 
means  of  presenting  in  conven- 
ient form  the  resources  of  Utah. 
It  was  proposed  to  give  the 
exhibit  some  such  name  as 
"Utah  at  a  Glance, "  and  it  was 
intended  to  make  of  the  insti- 
tution a  means  of  showing  tour- 
ists what  we  have  and  what  we 
are  doing.  We  then  and  there 
agreed  to  start  the  enterprise. 
A  flaming  advertisement  was 
inserted  in  the  Deseret  News, 
calling  for  relics,  curiosities, 
mineralogical  and  geological 
specimens,  and  natural  history 
specimens  alive.  The  first  to- 
wards the  zoo  was  a  fine  pair  of 
black  bears,  yearlings,  p  r  e  - 
sented  by  Walker  Brothers. 
Many  things  were  bought  and 
many  more  were  donated.  The 
miner,  the  artisan,   the  hunter, 

and  in  fact  citizens  of  all  classes  brought  their  contributions,  and  in  six 

months  the  museum  had  already  quite  a  start. 

The  "Museum  and  Menagerie"  had  for  its  first  home*  a  little, 
two-roomed  house  of  but  one  story  in  height,  located  on  the  north 
side  of  South  Temple  street,  a  short  distance  to  the  east  of  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  imposing  structure  completed  in  the  early 
part  of  1911,  and  known  as  the  Hotel  Utah.  The  contrast  is  a 
striking  one.  The  adobes  or  sun-dried  brick  of  which  the  little 
house  was  built,  were  of  the  large  size  commonly  used  in  the  early 


2.  — JOHN     W.     YOUNG, 

Founder,  and  for  eight  years  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Salt  Like  Museum  and  Men- 
agerie, now  the  Deseret  Museum.  From 
a  photograph  taken  about  1876. 


*wSee  frontispiece. 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


955 


days,  measuring  about  seventeen  inches  in  length,  eight  in  width 
and  four  in  thickness.  This  adobe  hut,  at  the  time  of  its  con- 
struction, ranked  among  the  most  pretentious  residences  in  Great 
Salt  Lake  City.  It  was  built  as  a  residence  at  the  instance  of 
President  Brigham  Young,  and  in  it  were  born  children  destined  to 
become  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  community.  Among  those 
who  there  first  saw  the  light  were  Eva  Young,  who  in  time  became 
Mrs.  Davis;  Shamira  Young,  afterward  Mrs.  Rossiter;  Alfales 
Young,  now  of  the  editorial 
staff  of  the  Deseret  News; 
Emily  Wells,  afterward  Mrs. 
Grant;  and  Heber  M.  Wells, 
the  first  governor  of  the 
State  of  Utah. 

At  first  the  institution 
was  known  as  the  Salt  Lake 
City  Museum  and  Menagerie. 
The  following  appeared  in 
the  Deseret  Weekly  News  of 
December  22,  1869. 


The  Museum  and  Men- 
agerie.— We  were  very  much 
pleased  in  visiting  the  home 
museum  of  John  W.  Young, 
Esq.  That  gentleman  has  al- 
ready formed  a  very  fine  nucleus 
for  an  excellent  museum;  and 
every  means  is  being  taken  to 
augment  and  enrich  the  collec- 
tion of  objects,  either  by  pur- 
chase   or    contribution.       The 


3.—  GUGLIELMO  GIOSUE  BOSSETTI  SAN- 
GIOVANNI, 

First  Curator  of  the  Salt  Lake  City 
Museum  and  Menagerie.  From  a  photo- 
graph taken  in  July,  1911. 


proprietor  is  taking  measures  to  supply  his  menagerie  with  a  complete 
collection  of  birds  and  animals  indigenous  to  this  region.  Residents  of 
remote  parts  of  the  country,  where  rare  specimens  of  wild  animals 
and  birds  are  more  plentiful  than  in  this  immediate  locality,  will  confer 
a  great  favor  on  Mr.  Young,  and  render  material  aid  in  furthering  the 
object  he  has  in  view,  by  securing  such  specimens  as  may  come  within 
their  reach  and  forwarding  them  to  him. 


S  a 


M      5 


3      <»  •- 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


957 


The  latest  addition  to  the  menagerie  was  made  today.  It  is  a  very- 
beautiful  specimen  of  the  black-tailed  deer, captured  in  Montana,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  institution  by  J.  Gilmer,  Esq.,  of  the  Gilmer  and  Salisbury 
stage  line. 

We  think  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when,  if  this  matter  is  perse- 
vered in,  we  shall  have  a  fine  zoological  collection  and  a  very  excellent 
museum. 

An  interesting  description,  summarizing  the  history  of  the 
institution  during  the  early  stages  of  its  existence,  was  written  in 
May,  1911,  by  John  Q.  Can- 
non, Esq.,  secretary  of  the 
Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scien- 
tific Association,  which  asso- 
ciation at  a  later  date  ac- 
quired ownership  of  the  Mu- 
seum.    Mr.  Cannon  says: 

The  Deseret  Museum,  like 
many  another  excellent  and  im- 
portant institution  in  the  inter- 
mountain  country,  owes  its 
inception  to  the  busy  brain  and 
progressive  spirit  of  John  W. 
Young.  Of  course  the  forty 
odd  years  that  have  elapsed 
since  the  Museum's  doors  were 
first  opened  have  witnessed  a 
mighty  growth  in  its  extent 
and  value,  as  well  as  a  radical 
change  in  its  aim  and  char- 
acter. In  the  beginning,  indeed, 
the  museum  idea  was  second- 
ary and  incidental.  The  promi- 
nent feature  then  was  the  live 
animal  collection,  the  founder's 
plan  being  to  assemble,  exhibit  and  make  familiar  to  young  Utahns,  the 
birds,  beasts,  reptiles  and  insects  of  the  surrounding  region.  By  way 
of  spice  and  variety  in  the  exhibit,  that  indispensable  adjunct,  a  cage 
of  monkeys, was  added  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  juvenile  delight.  Hence 
the  exhibit  was  referred  to  more   as   the    "managerie"    than   as  the 


5— JOSEPH   L.    BARFOOT, 

Curator  of  the  Museum  from  1870  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  April  25,  1882.  This 
portrait  is  reproduced  from  an  enlarge- 
ment of  a  photograph  taken  during  the 
last  year  of  his  life.  "He  was  a  diamond 
in  the  rough;  a  diamond  of  the  first 
water." 


958 


IMPRO  YEMEN  T  ERA . 


"museum;"  and  it  obtained  a  hold  on  the  affections  of  the  urchin  of 
that  day  which  the  lapse  of  time  has  neither  loosened  nor  effaced.  Its 
popularity  was  immense, and  while  it  was  well  patronized  all  the  time,  there 
were  certain  days  when  the  jam  of  youngsters  was  so  great  that  moving  out 

of  one's  place  in  the  crowd  was 
impossible.  These  were  the 
occasions  when  the  school  chil- 
d  r  e  n  came  by  battalions  in 
charge  of  their  teachers,  the 
admission  fee  being  nominal  if 
not  entirely  gratis.  In  was  on 
one  of  these  days,  when  the 
progress  of  the  trooping  youth 
had  become  entirely  blocked, 
that  "Sangio,"  the  curator,  in- 
geniously relieved  the  conges- 
tion by  painting  the  strange 
word,  "Egress,''  over  a  rear 
and  unused  door.  The  more 
inquisitive  of  the  crowd  detected 
the  new  sign,  concluded  it  indi- 
cated the  cage  of  some  new  and 
probably  savage  animal,  and 
surged  out  pell-mell  through  the 
door.  The  pushing  stream  be- 
hind made  return  impossible,  of 
course,  and  before  the  throng 
normal  conditions    had   been 


6.—  BABFOOT  MONUMENT  IN    SALT    LAKE 
CITY  CEMETEKY, 

Marking  the  resting  place  of  Joseph  L. 
Bi.rfoot,  of  whom  those  who  knew  him 
love  to  speak  as  "One  of  Nature's 
noblemen." 


inside    had     become    wise    to  the  ruse 
restored. 

In  those  days  there  were  bears — brown,  black,  cinnamon  and  griz- 
zly; wolverines,  mountain  lions,  wildcats,  lynx,  porcupines,  badgers, 
antelopes,  deer,  coyotes,  wolves,  and  for  a  very  brief  period  a  specimen 
of  Mephitis,  better  known  as  skunk;  there  were  minks  and  musk  rats 
hawks,  eagles,  crows,  cranes,  owls  and  gulls,  besides  a  cage  of  song- 
birds; there  were  snakes,  lizards  and  horned-toads;  and  most  splendid  of 
all,  there  were  the  imported  monkeys,  and  "Sangio's  happy  family," 
one  cage  housing  dog,  cat,  blackbird,  pigeons,  pups,  kittens,  chickens 
and  numerous  other  more  or  less  antagonistic  species.  Occasionally 
there  would  be  a  two-headed  calf  or  some  other  passing  freak  or  mon- 
strosity; and  there  soon  began  to  be  collections  of  coins  and  curios.  But 
foremost  in  the  plans  of   the  management — and  in  the  interest  of  the 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


959 


visitors,  too — was  the  "zoo"  feature,  for  which  the  original  curator  was 
especially  qualified,  actually  seeming  to  possess  the  gift — so  we  used  to 
think — of  talking  to  each  particular  beast  in  its  own  particular  lan- 
guage. The  animals  knew  him,  and  appeared  to  like  him,  and  if  he  was 
not  actually  a  natural-born  trainer,  without  doubt  he  could  have 
easily  made  himself  an  expert  in  this  line. 

The  institution,  as  stated,  was  founded  by  John  W.  Young,  just 
prior  to  or  about  the  time  of  the  advent  of  the  railroad;  and  it  was  first 
housed  in  the  low  structure  behind  the  old  wall  west  of  the  Lion  House, 
and  at  or  immediately  east  of  where  College  Avenue  now  is.  The  animal 
cages  were  inside  as  well  as  in  front  and  in  rear  of  the  building,  and  took 
up  much  the  greater  part  of  the  space.      The  museum  portion  occupied 


7.— THE  CHURCH   UNIVERSITY  BUILDING, 

'  Erected  by  the  Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  AssociaDion,  1892-3.  On  the  top 
floor  of  this  building  part  of  the  Deseret  Museum  collections  were  exhibited  from 
March,  1893,  to  July,  1903.  The  building  with  its  grounds  was  transferred  to  the 
Universitv  of  Utah  as  part  of  an  endowment  gift;  and  subsequently  the  title  passed 
to  the  State  of  Utah. thence  to  Salt  Lake  City, and  lastly  to  the  City  Board  of  Edu- 
cation.    The  structure  is  now  used  by  the  Salt  Lake  City  High  School. 


960 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


one  small  room,  which  furnished  sufficient  space  for  the  interesting 
relics  and  curios  comprising  the  collection.  The  man  in  charge  was 
Sangiovanni,  a  jolly,  clever  and  loquacious  son  of  sunny  Italy,  who  fit 
into  the  position  as  if  made  for  it.  But  science  was  not  his  forte,  and 
no  efforts  were  put  forth  by  him,  or  at  that  time  by  any  one  else,  to 
promote  this  aspect  or  field  of  the  institution. 

After  a  time  the  museum  quarters  were  required  for  the  use  of  the 
Deseret  Telegraph,  company, and  the  collection — now  shorn  almost  bare  of 


8.— THE  VERMONT  BUILDING,    ERECTED  IN   1909-10. 

This  structure  covers  the  site  of  the  Museum's  second  home  f  see  illustration 
No.  4)  at  the  corner  of  South  Temple  and  Richards  streets.  The  Deseret 
Museum  was  here  reopened  to  the  public  July  11,  1911,  following  a  period  of 
eight  years  during  which  the  collections  had  remained  in  storage. 


its  "zoo"  character— was  removed  to  the  upper  floor  of  the  historic 
building  that  stood  nearly  opposite  the  south  gate  of  the  Temple  block. 
There  was  still  a  cage  or  two  of  small  animals  and  one  of  birds,  kept  in 
the  yard,  but  they  did  not  remain  long  after  coming  to  the  new  quarters. 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


961 


The  museum  collection,  on  the  other  hand,  began  to  grow  rapidly  and 
was  much  enjoyed  by  the  few  who  were  anxious  enough  to  inspect  it 
to  make  their  way  around  to  the  rear  of  the  long  building  and  climb 
the  rickety  stairs  on  the  outside.  That  great  naturalist, — whose  worth 
was  perhaps  never  realized — Joseph  L.  Barfoot,  had  been  placed  in 
charge;  and  his  patience,  his  erudition  and  his  unfailing  willingness  to 
devote  his  time  and  talents  free  to  the  public,  gave  to  the  Museum  the 
character  of  a  veritable  mine  of  information.      His  capacity  for  work 


9.— EAST  ROOM  ON  THE  SECOND  FLOOR  OF  THE  VERMONT  BUILDING. 

This  shows  one  of  the  lar^e  Museum  rooms  before  the  installation  of  the  exhibits. 

was  prodigious,  and  his  knowledge  vast  and  inexhaustible.  He  contrib- 
uted regularly  and  voluminously  to  all  the  periodicals  of  the  day,  and  did 
incalculable  good  in  awakening  an  interest  in  and  popularizing  hitherto 
dry  scientific  subjects  by  his  luminous  treatment  of  them.  It  was  not 
long  before  the  lower  floor  of  the  building,  heretofore  occupied  as  a 
school,  was  also  brought  into  use  for  the  Museum,  which  grew  rapidly  in 
extent  as  well  as  in  educational  value  through  thorough  and  accurate 
classification.  Prc-f.  Barfoot  died  in  April,  1882,  lamented  sincerely 
by  the  circle  who  knew  him  well,  and  respected  by  the  entire 
community. 


962 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


With  his  departure,  the  now  very  valuable  institution  went  into 
a  period,  perhaps  not  of  decline,  but  certainly  of  inactivity.  The 
Museum  was  financially  and  otherwise  embarrassed,  and  was  in  no 
position  to  exploit  or  extend  its  usefulness.  Temporary  curators,  more 
properly  caretakers  or  watchmen,  during  the  three  following  years 
were  Messrs.  Ford  and  Schofield;  and  the  much  beloved  George  Rey- 
nolds had  for  a  time  his  literary  "den"  in  one  of  its  obscure  corners, 


10.— THE   MINERAL   SECTION. 

Here  are  exhibited  over  eight  thousand  minerals,  many  of  them  choice  crystals.  The 
three  large  specimens  seen  through  the  end  panel  of  the  case  in  the  foreground  are 
casts  of  large  gold  nuggets.  The  cases  shown  in  this  corridor  are  made  of  thick 
glass  with  oak  frames;  the  shelves  are  covered  with  black  cloth,  thus  affording  a 
most  effective  background.  Iron  uprights  of  1-inch  pipe,  suitably  braced,  support 
the  shelves;  this  construction  insures  the  framework  against  strain  from 
weight. 


and  was  quasi-custodian  in  charge,  doing  there  some  of  his  best   and 
most  enduring  work. 

In  1891,  Dr.  James  E.  Talmage,  then  president  of  the  Latter- 
day  Saints  College,  now  the  Latter-day  Saints  University,  took  charge 
of  the  Museum.  At  this  critical  time  the  property  on  which  the 
adobe  home  of  the  Museum  stood  changed  hands  and  the  collections 
were  removed  to  the  Templeton  building.     With  Dr.  Talmage' s  accept- 


THE  DESERET  MLSEUM. 


963 


ance    of  the  directorship,  a  new  era  in  the  management  and  conduct 
of  the  Museum  was  inaugurated. 

John  Q.  Cannon, 
Secretary  Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  Association,  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  May  5,  1911. 

The  building  referred  to  by  Mr.  Cannon  as  the  second  home 
of  the  Museum  had  been  erected  as  a  store  for  general  merchan- 


n. 


-A    VIEW  IN  THE  ANNEX  TO   THE   MINERAL  SECTION. 


Tbe  case  in  the  foreground  contains  a  splendid  exhibit  of  calcareous  deposits 
from  caves,  including  stalactites  and  stalagmites  of  many  unusual  forms,  and  a 
number  of  Aragonite  specimens  in  feathery  forms,  "as  delicate  as  frost  flowers, 
and  as  fragile  as  spun  glass.  "  The  case  here  shown  is  a  type  of  the  new  cases 
recently  installed;  they  are  constructed  of  plate  glass  with  a  framework  of 
bronze.    The  shelves  are  all  of  heavy  plate  glass. 

dise.  In  the  illustration  presented  herewith,  (No.  4)  it  is  indi- 
cated by  an  arrow.  This  picture,  by  the  way,  is  otherwise  inter- 
esting, as  it  presents  a  general  view  of  the  Temple  block  before 
the  foundations  of  the  great  temple  had  risen  above  the  ground. 
The  view  is  taken  looking  southward  from  a  point  near  the  junc- 
tion of  East  Temple  and  Center  streets,  on  the  slopes  of  Capitol 
Hill.     With  the  removal  of  the  institution  to  its  new  home  its 


964 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


name  was  changed,  and  for  several  years  thereafter  it  was  known 
as  the  "Salt  Lake  City  Museum,"  though  even  before  its  change 
of  location  the  name  "Deseret  Museum  and  Menagerie"  had  found 
its  way  into  print.  In  the  Salt  Lake  Herald  (Vol.  I,  No.  290> 
May,  1871)  appeared  the  following  notice  of  removal: 

The  Deseret  Museum  and  Menagerie  has  been  removed  from  its 
former  location  to  more  roomy  premises  opposite  the  south  entrance 
to  the  Tabernacle.  The  place  just  vacated  by  the  Museum  has 
become  entirely  too  small  for  the  large    and  interesting  collection  of 


12— CASE  CONTAINING   HUGE  CRYSTALS  OF  SELENITE,   THE  TRANSPARENT  VAR- 
IETY OF    GYPSUM. 

Here  are  exhibited  the  largest  perfect  prisms,  twins  and  combination  forms  of 
this  mineral,  yet  reported  from  any  part  of  the  world.  Of  the  following  pic- 
ures,  Nos.  13,  11  and  15  illustrate  the  deposit  from  which  these  crystals  were 
taken. 

specimens  which  Mr.  John  W.  Young,   the  proprietor,   and    Professor 
Barfoot,  the  superintendent,  have  collected. 

The  status  of  the  Museum  remained  that  of  a  private  institu- 
tion, and,  as  late  as  1874,  the  label  stamp  read,  "The  Salt  Lake 
City  Museum,  J.  W.  Young,  Proprietor." 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


965 


The  man  to  whose  ability  and  energy  is  due  the  con- 
tinued existence  of  the  Museum  during  its  period  of  dire  pov- 
erty and  hard  struggle  was  Joseph  L.  Barfoot,  the  second  curator, 
and  the  gentleman  to  whom  Secretary  John  Q.  Cannon  refers  in 
terms  of  well-merited  appreciation  and  well  deserved  respect. 
Joseph  L.  Barfoot  was  a  diamond  in  the  rough;  a  diamond  of  the 


13— COLOSSAL    GEODE     OF    SELENITE,     AS     DISCOVERED  IN    SOUTH 

WASH,       WAYNE      COUNTY,      UTAH,       AND       EXPLOITED 

UNDER  THS  AUSPICES  OF  THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 

This  was  left  exposed  in  the  condition  here  shown  by  the  weathering  of  the  sand- 
stone matrix  in  which  it  was  formed.  The  mass  consisted  of  a  gypsum  shell,  to  the 
inner  surface  of  which  the  great  crystals  were  attached.  The  geode,  which  from  a 
distance  had  the  appearance  of  a  glistening  mound,  was  approximately  35  feet  in 
length,  10  feet  in  average  breadth,  and  stood  20  feet  above  the  ground  on  the 
lower  side.  The  photograph  was  taken  in  189a,  just  before  the  removal  of  crystals 
was  commenced.     A  natural  opening  is  seen  on  the  front  side. 


966  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

first  water,  whose  worth  was  known  to  few  and  appreciated  by 
fewer.  As  I  look  over  the  old  records  and  go  through  the  time- 
stained  papers  that  were  once  in  Barfoot 's  custody,  many  of  them 
written  by  his  own  hand,  I  read  a  story  of  devotion  to  the  cause 
of  scientific  investigation  which  to  me  is  an  ever-present  inspi- 
ration and  encouragement.  Whatever  the  foreground  of  our 
museum  picture  may  yet  come  to  be,  one  of  its  principal  charms 
will  be  found  in  the  background  of  faithful  service  incidental  to 
the  efforts  of  its  promoters  and  supporters  in  the  early  years  of 
its  checkered  history. 

Joseph  L.  Barfoot  was  born  March  29,  1816,  within  the  walls 
of  Warwick  Castle,  England.  He  came  to  Utah  in  1865,  and 
died  here  on  the  25th  of  April,  1882.  In  the  Deseret  News  of 
April,  26,  1882,  appears  the  announcement  of  his  death.  Part  of 
the  article  is  here  quoted: 

The  death  of  Professor  Joseph  L.  Barfoot  occurred  at  4:45  a.  m. 
yesterday  in  his  room  on  the  upper  floor  of  the  Museum  building.  He 
had  been  suffering  for  some  time  from  bronchitis,  but  no  one  antici- 
pated that  the  end  was  so  near.  On  Saturday  he  was  at  his  post  in 
the  Museum,  of  which  he  was  curator,  as  usual,  and  slept  well  from 
nine  that  night  till  four  a.  m.  yesterday.  At  that  hour  he  awoke 
and  was  seized  with  a  severe  fit  of  coughing.  He  requested  his  wife 
to  summon  Dr.  H.  J.  Richards,  who  soon  arrived,  but  he  had  become 
unconscious,  and  passed  away  quietly  as  if  falling  into  a  gentle 
sleep. 

During  the  whole  course  of  his  life  Brother  Barfoot  had  devoted 
himself  to  the  attainment  of  scientific  knowledge,  which  he,  by  patient 
research  and  assiduity,succeeded  in  accumulating  to  a  remarkable  degree. 
In  fact  there  is  scarcely  a  branch  of  exact  science  with  which  he 
was  not  more  or  less  familiar.  Several  years  ago  Hon.  John  W. 
Young  founded  the  nucleus  of  a  museum,  and  being  aware  of  the  pro- 
fessor's attainments,  employed  him  a  portion  of  his  time  daily  to  classify 
the  different  specimens  belonging  to  and  which  were  constantly  being 
brought  into  the  institution.  Finally  he  became  the  curator,  which 
position  he  retained  after  the  Museum  changed  hands,  and  held  it 
to  the  time  of  his  death. 

His  position  in  the  Museum  was  one  for  which  his  nature  and 
education  admirably  adapted  him,  and  the  vacancy  created  by  his 
death  will  not  be  easily  filled. 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


967 


Deceased  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Robert  the  Bruce,  King  of 
Scotland,  and  heir  to  the  earldom  of  Crawford.  He  was  also  directly 
descended,  on  the  side  of  his  mother,  Sophia  Louisa  Ridley,  from  Bishop 
Ridley,  of  historic  fame,  who  was  martyred  at  Smithfield. 

Volumes  might  be  written  concerning  this  good  and  learned  man, 
the  story    of  whose  life    presents  an   almost   perpetual  struggle  with 


14.— INTERIOR  OF  SELENITE  GEODE  SHOWN  IN  NO.    13. 

This  photograph  was  taken  by  placing  the  camera  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave-like 
opening,  looking  inward.  Enormous  prisms  appear  projecting  inward  from  the 
walls  of  the  cavern, and  in  some  instances  extending  from  side  to  side,  "suggesting, 
but  for  their  singular  beauty,  the  heavy  timbers  of  a  deep  mine." 

poverty.  His  devotion  to  the  pursuit  of  truth  was  heroic,  his  kind- 
ness of  heart  proverbial,  and  his  integrity  to  his  honest  conviction 
unwavering  and  unsullied. 

In  the  city  cemetery  is  a  block  of  native  granite,  rough  hewn, 


968  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

except  for  a  scroll  on  one  side.      On  this  carven  page  appears  the 
inscription: 

Tribute  of  friends  to  the  memory  of  a 

Natural  Nobleman,  Joseph  L.  Barfoot,  Scientist,  Saint. 

Born   1816,  Warwick  Castle,  England. 

Died  1882,  Salt  Lake  City. 

The  rough-hewn  granite  block  speaks  of  his  character;  the 
epitaph  tells  the  truth. 

Sometime  toward  the  end  of  the  '70's,  the  ownership  of  the 
Museum  passed  to  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints, 
more  commonly  known  as  the  "Mormon"  Church.  In  line  with 
its  principle  of  fostering  and  promoting  public  education,  the 
Church  acquired  possession  of  the  museum  collections  with  the 
purpose  of  developing  the  institution  as  a  means  of  increasing  and 
diffusing  knowledge  among  the  people.  However,  in  those  days 
but  little  money  could  be  spared  for  other  than  necessities,  and 
the  bare  maintenance  of  the  Museum  involved  sacrifice  and  devo- 
tion. During  this  period  of  its  history  the  Museum  had  as  its 
executive  head  the  highest  official  of  the  "Mormon"  Church,  viz., 
the  president,  who  was  known  as  the  Proprietor-in-Trust. 

Among  the  old  papers  belonging  to  the  Museum  is  a  sheet  in. 
Curator  Barfoot 's   own  writing,  which,  while  undated,  was  prob- 
ably written  in  1878.     This  paper  reads  as  follows: 

The  Deseret  Museum  was  founded  in  the  fall  of  1869  by  John  W. 
Young,  under  the  patronage  and  by  direction  of  the  late  President  Brig- 
ham  Young.  For  many  years  antecedent  to  this,  collections  of  antiq- 
uities and  curiosities  had  been  made  by  the  "Mormon"  missionaries  in 
various  countries,  many  of  which  are  now  seen  in  the  cabinets  of  the 
Museum.  The  opening  of  the  mines  in  1865  by  General  P.  E.  Connor, 
and  the  stimulus  given  to  mining  industry  in  1870-71  and  subsequently, 
led  to  a  large  influx  of  strangers  who  contributed  handsomely  to  the 
newly-opened  Museum,  evidences  of  which  are  seen  and  permanently 
remain  as  a  testimony  of  the  liberality  of  the  miners  and  prospectors  of 
those  days.  Besides  these  advantages,  the  patronage  of  wealthy  resi- 
dents greatly  aided  in  the  extension  of  the  Museum.  At  present  the 
exhibit  is  confined  to  a  very  limited  space  in  a  poorly  lighted  and  ill- 
provided  building  opposite  the  Tabernacle  gates.      Very   recently  the 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


969 


entire  control  and  ownership  of  the  Museum  has  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  people,  as  may  be  seen  in  a  notification  to  that  effect  in  the 
Deseret  News.     President  John  Taylor  is  the  Proprietor-in-Trust. 

Contents  in  brief:  Cabinets  of  local  minerals  and  ores;  manufac- 
tured articles,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  a  garment  made  of 
dog's  hair;  a  valuable  cabinet  of  coins  of  all  ages  and  countries;  photo- 
graphs of  the  "Mormon"  dignitaries  from  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  to 
the  present  leader,  John  Taylor;  fossils  of  the  region,  among  which  are 
those  of  the  elephant,  (Mammoth)  etc.;  specimens  of  the  fauna  and  flora 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  a  large  and  very  valuable  collection  of  Indian 
and  Stone  Age  relics  and  curiosities;  many  specimens  of  local  birds,  some 
kept  alive  for  exhibition;  an  almost  complete  set  of  the  Government 
reports,  maps,  charts,  etc.,  which  are  kept  for  reference. 

With  the  changes  now  in  contemplation  the  enlarged  prem- 
ises   will    enable    the    curator   to    show   things    to   more    advantage. 


It 

K             v 

M 

f   WW*\* 

l   V 

»  * 

1 

15.— GROUP  OF  SELENITE  CtlYSTALS. 

A  crystal  aggregate, weighing  when  in  the  condition  here  shown, about  650  pounds. 
As  trimmed  to  the  state  in  which  it  is  now  mounted  in  the  Deseret  Museum,  the 
group  weighs  over  550  pounds.  This  mass  of  inter-locking  prisms  was  taken  from 
the  floor  of  the  cavern  shown  in  No  14;  when  in  place  the  top  of  the  group  was 
partly  cevered  by  loose  rubbish  brought  into  the  cavern  by  mountain-rats; 
this  loose  material  is  seen  in  the  last  Illustration. 


970  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

The  present  name  of  the  institution,  Deseret  Museum,  seems 
to  have  come  into  use  by  popular  assent  before  it  had  been 
officially  adopted.  With  the  change  of  proprietorship,  whereby 
the  institution  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Church,  the  name 
became  fixed. 

"Deseret"  is  a  name  in  very  general  use  in  Utah  and  is 
exclusively  a  "Mormon"  designation.  It  is  a  matter  of  record 
that  in  the  many  futile  attempts  to  secure  statehood  for  the  Ter- 
ritory of  Utah,  the  people  proposed  to  call  the  prospective  State 
"Deseret;"  indeed  even  before  the  organization  of  the  Territory 
of  Utah,  the  pioneer  colonists  had  established  among  themselves 
the  '  'Provisional  Government  of  the  State  of  Deseret. ' '  "Deseret' ' 
is  a  Book  of  Mormon  word,  signifying  the  honey  bee.  Thus  we 
read  in  the  account  given  of  the  departure  of  Jared  and  his 
colony  from  the  tower  of  Babel  after  the  confusion  of  tongues: 
"And  they  did  also  carry  with  them  Deseret,  which  by  interpre- 
tation is  a  honey  bee;  and  thus  they  did  carry  with  them  swarms 
of  bees"  (Book  of  Mormon,  Ether  2:  3), 

Although  the  people  were  denied  the  fulfilment  of  their  desire 
to  make  this  the  name  of  the  commonwealth  created  by  their  zeal 
and  toil,  they  adopted  the  beehive  as  the  official  emblem  on  the 
Seal  of  State;  and  moreover,  "Deseret"  is  perpetuated  as  a 
distinctive  designation  in  many  applications.  Thus  we  have  the 
Deseret  News — the  pioneer  newspaper  of  the  intermountain  region, 
— the  Deseret  National  Bank,  the  Deseret  Savings  Bank,  the  Des- 
eret Sunday  School  Union,  the  Deseret  Gymnasium,  and  in  addi- 
tion there  are  irrigation  companies,  factories,  societies  and  indus- 
trial organizations,  all  bearing  this  name;  and  moreover,  there  is 
still  in  flourishing  existence  the  Deseret  Museum. 

From  April,  1882,  when  Joseph  L.  Barfoot  died,  to  January, 
1891,  when  the  present  director  was  placed  in  charge,  the  museum 
collections  were  left  in  the  custody  of  a  succession  of  care-takers, 
none  of  whom  made  pretension  to  scientific  qualification  or  trained 
ability.  But  for  the  devoted  service  and  self-sacrificing  efforts  of 
Messrs.  George  Reynolds  and  Don  Carlos  Young,  who,  as  officers 
of  the  Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  Association,  exercised  an 
efficient  supervision,  the  Museum,  instead  of  passing  into  a  state 
of  suspended  activity  only,  would  have  suffered  actual  dissolution. 

During  this   period  of   interrupted   growth,   the   institution 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


971 


underwent  another  change  of  ownership.  In  June,  1885,  the  Salt 
Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  Association  was  organized,  and  in  the 
month  following  was  duly  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  Ter- 


16.— A   CORNER  IN  THE   CORRIDOR   DEVOTED  TO  REPRESENTATIONS  OF  EXTINCT 

ANIMALS. 

In  the  foreground  is  seen  a  cast  of  the  head  and  tusks  of  a  Mammoth  (Elephas 
ganessa) .  In  the  mid-ground  appears  the  skull  of  the  monstrous  Dinothere — 
P'obably  the  largest  mammal  that  ever  walked  the  earth:  its  femur  or  thigh 
bone  hangs  on  a  pillar  near  by.  To  the  left  of  the  center  is  seen  the  skull  of 
the  Mastodon,  with  its  huge,  spreading  tusks. 

ritory  of  Utah.     The  purposes  of  this  organization  are  set  forth  in 
its  articles  of  incorporation  as  follows: 

The  objects  of  said  corporation  are  to  found  and  maintain  a  reposi- 
tory and  collection  of  natural,  scientific  and  literary  curiosities  and 
works  of  art;  and  to  aid  its  members  in  literary  and  scientific  pursuits, 
and  not  for  pecuniary  profit;  and  for  the  purposes  aforesaid  the  corpora- 
tion may  buy,  sell,  lease,  hire  and  exchange  such  real  estate  and  per- 
sonal property  as  may  be  necessary,  suitable  or  convenient,  and  hold  and 
use  the  same  for  the  purposes  of  the  corporation. 

Soon  after  its  organization,  the  Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scien- 
tific Association  acquired  possession  of  the  Deseret  Museum  and 
the  parcel  of  ground  upon  which  stood  the  diminutive  museum 


972  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

home.  This  property  was  sold  by  the  Association  in  1890,  and 
thus  arose  the  imperative  necessity  of  providing  other  quarters 
for  the  Museum.  A  partial  installation  was  made  in  a  large  room 
on  the  ground  floor  of  the  Templeton  building,  and  therein  the 
exhibits  were  re-opened  to  the  public  in  January,  1891.  These 
crowded  quarters  proved  wholly  inadequate  and  otherwise  incon- 
venient. The  side  door  to  the  museum  room  opened  into  an  alley 
in  which  coal  was  delivered  to  the  building,  and  many  of  the  col- 
lections suffered  serious  injury  from  coal  dust.  In  1892-3  the 
Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  Association  used  the  funds  secured 
by  the  sale  of  the  museum  lot  in  the  erection  of  a  three-story 
building  on  what  was  then  known  as  the  Ellerbeck  property  on 
First  North  street,  between  First  and  Second  West  streets.  The 
Deseret  Museum  collections  were  installed  on  the  top  floor, 
the  remaining  portions  of  the  building  being  fitted  up  as  labora- 
tories and  lecture  rooms  and  used  for  instruction  work  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Church  University. 

From  1891  to  1903,  the  curator  had  the  assistance  of  Mr.  J. 
Reuben  Clark,  Jr.,  to  whom  much  credit  is  due  for  the  successful 
operation  of  the  Museum  during  this  period.  Mr.  Clark  was  at 
that  time  a  student,  first  in  the  Latter-day  Saints  College,  after- 
ward in  the  University  of  Utah,  from  both  of  which  schools  he 
graduated  with  honor.  Later  he  completed  a  course  in  the 
law  school  of  Columbia  University,  and  is  now  the  Solicitor  of  State 
of  the  United  States. 

The  collections  were  exhibited  in  the  Church  University  build- 
ing for  a  little  over  ten  years,  specifically  from  March  17,  1893, 
to  July  30,  1903.  Then  another  change  became  necessary.  In 
pursuance  of  its  purpose  of  assisting  in  the  educational  growth  of 
the  community,  the  Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  Association 
had  endowed  a  chair  in  the  University  of  Utah  with  provision  for 
its  perpetual  maintenance.  The  gift  is  thus  chronicled  in  the 
official  publication  of  the  University: 

In  April,  1894,  the  University  became  the  recipient  of  a  handsome 
endowment,  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  history  of  the  institution  to  come 
from  private  sources.  The  Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  Association, 
an  educational  organization  of  Utah,  endowed  the  chair  of  Geology  to 
the  amount  of  sixty  thousand  dollars,  this  fund  to  be  kept  intact  and 
the  proceeds  to  be  used  for  the  support  of  the  chair  named.     Acting 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


973 


under  the  terms  of  the  law  governing  the  endowment  of  departments  in 
the  University,  the  Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  Association  named 
the  chair  "The  Deseret  Professorship  of  Geology." 

With  the  endowment  went  the  use  of  the  Church  University 
building  at  a  nominal  rental  for  a  term  of  years,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  term  the  title  to  the  building  and  grounds  passed  to 
the  University  of  Utah.      The  building  is  at  present  used  in  con- 


17.— A  CORNER  IN  THE  SECTION  DEVOTED   TO  ZOOLOGY. 

Here  are  seen  mounted  specimens  of  the  Elk  or  Wapiti,  adult  male  and  female, 
and  a  half-grown  doe.  To  the  left  is  a  mounted  Big-horn  or  Mountain  Sheep. 
Tn  the  zoological  collection  over  five  hundred  specimens  are  on  exhibition. 

nection  with  the  scientific  department  of  the  Salt  Lake  City  High 
School. 

As  stated,  these  changes  necessitated  another  removal  of  the 
museum  collections  and  the  institution  found  itself  without  a  home 
of  any  kind.  Not  even  the  adobe  tenements  of  early  days  were  at 
its  service.  The  collections  were  boxed  and  placed  in  storage,  and 
so  they  remained  from  July,  1903,  until  July,  1910.  In  the  month 
last  named  the  work  of  installing  the  collections  in  the  new  Ver- 
mont building  was  begun.  This  structure  stands  at  the  corner  of 
South  Temple   and  Richards  streets,  on  the  old  museum  lot,  and 


974  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

covers  the  site  already  described  as  the  second  abiding  place  of 
the  institution. 

The  Salt  Lake  Literary  and  Scientific  Association  found  itself 
without  means  to  provide  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Museum; 
moreover,  the  Association  had  incurred  heavy  obligations  in  con- 
nection with  the  erection  of  the  Church  University  building,  and 
in  the  endowment  of  the  professorship  in  the  University  of  Utah. 
In  November,  1899,  the  Association  transferred  the  Deseret 
Museum  collections  to  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints,  with  which  body  the  title  still  rests.  The  entire  second 
floor  of  the  Vermont  building,  together  with  additional  space  in  the 
basement  and  on  other  floors,  has  been  placed  at  the  service  of 
the  institution.  The  work  of  installing  and  arranging  the  collec- 
tions for  public  inspection  progressed  slowly  owing  to  the  limited 
help  employed,  and  not  until  July  11,  1911,  were  the  doors  of  the 
new  museum  quarters  opened  to  the  public. 

In  the  work  of  re-installation,  and  in  the  operation  of  the 
Museum  since  its  reopening,  the  director  has  been  greatly  assisted 
by  the  able  labors  of  Mr.  William  Forsberg,  who  resigned  an 
instructorship  in  the  University  of  Utah  to  enter  the  museum  ser- 
vice. Much  of  the  convenience  and  attractiveness  of  the  exhibits 
as  they  appear  today  must  be  credited  to  Mr.  Forsberg's  skill  and 
devotion. 

Excepting  the  space  occupied  by  the  offices  of  the  director 
an  entire  floor  of  the  Vermont  is  devoted  to  exhibition  purposes. 
A  light-well  divides  the  floor  into  east  and  west  halls,  and  these 
are  again  divided  longitudinally  by  rows  of  panelled  pillars,  each 
pillar  presenting  four  surfaces,  of  use  as  hanging-space.  The 
exhibition  rooms  now  in  use  afford  about  seventy-five  hundred 
square  feet  of  floor  space;  and  while  this  is  small  as  gaged  by 
present  needs,  it  is  great  in  comparison  with  the  cramped  quarters 
heretofore  occupied  by  the  museum  displays.  The  photograph 
reproduced  in  the  illustration  No.  9  shows  the  general  appearance 
of  the  exhibition  rooms  before  the  installation  of  cases.  A  num- 
ber of  oak-frame  cases  used  in  the  Church  University  building 
have  been  remodeled  for  present  service,  but  many  new  cases  have 
been  added,  and  these  are  of  the  best  models,  constructed 
throughout  of  heavy  plate-glass  and  bronze.  The  corridor  devoted 
to  minerals  and  rocks  contains  fourteen  upright  cases,  in  which 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


975 


are  displayed  about  eight  thousand  specimens.  The  plan  of  classi- 
fication according  to  which  the  specimens  are  grouped  is  popular 
rather  than  technical. 

Among  the  mineral  exhibits  there  are  two  cases  which  never 
fail  to  arouse  the  interest  of  students  and  visitors  in  general.  One 
of  these  is  shown  in  the  foreground  of  illustration  No.  11;  it  con- 
tains  a  fine  collection  of  cave  deposits  from  the  Iron   Blossom 


IS. 


-A  VIEW  IN   THE   ETHNOLOGY   SECTION. 


The  case  shown  in  the  foreground  and  the  one  next  beyond  contain  a  number  of 
human  bodies  taken  from  the  burial  caves  of  the  ancieat  Cliff  Dwellers,  in  San 
Juan  County, Utah.  There  are  the  remains  of  a  number  of  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren, with  several  hundred  artifacts,  such  as  weapons,  tools,  household  imple- 
ments, ornaments  and  articles  of  clothing. 

mine,  near  Eureka,  Utah.  Beside  stalactites  and  stalagmites  of 
ordinary  forms  there  are  numerous  specimens  of  very  unusual 
shapes — bent  and  twisted,  contorted  and  convoluted;  but  most 
striking  of  all  are  the  groups  of  feathery  Aragonite,  as  delicate  as 
frost  flowers  and  as  fragile  as  spun  glass. 

The  other  case  referred  to  as  of  surpassing  interest  holds  the 
largest  mineral  crystals  of  approximately  perfect  form  yet 
reported  from  any  part  of  the  world.      These  are  the  famous  Sel- 


97G  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

enites,  or  gypsum  crystals,  for  the  discovery  and  exploitation  of 
which  the  Deseret  Museum  has  been  accorded  much  credit  and 
praise.  Here  are  to  be  seen  single  prisms  three  and  a  half  to 
four  feet  in  length,  weighing  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  each;  magnificent  twins  of  from  twenty  to  eighty 
pounds  each;  cleaved  slabs,  some  of  them  of  perfect  transparency, 
and  ranging  from  a  square  foot  to  eight  or  ten  square  feet  in  sur- 
face. Mounted  by  itself  is  a  group  of  Selenite  crystals,  the  like  of 
which  has  never  been  found.  Trimmed  to  its  present  dimensions 
this  huge  crystal-aggregate  weighs  five  hundred  and  fifty  pounds; 
as  taken  from  the  colossal  geode  in  which  in  occurred  it  was  fully 
a  hundred  pounds  heavier.  The  general  interest  shown  in  these 
specimens  warrants  at  least  brief  mention  of  their  occurrence. 

These  mammoth  crystals  were  removed  from  an  isolated 
deposit  in  the  stretch  of  desert-land  known  as  the  South  Wash, 
in  Wayne  County,  Utah;  the  discovery  was  made  in  the  fall  of 
1892,  and  the  work  of  removal  began  six  months  later.  The 
crystals  occurred  as  the  lining  of  a  huge  geode  which  had  been 
exposed  to  view  by  the  weathering  of  the  sandstone  matrix.  Over 
fifty  tons  of  crystals  were  taken  from  the  deposit,  and  of  these, 
specimens  are  now  to  be  found  in  many  prominent  museums  of  this 
country  and  Europe.  The  first  announcement  of  the  discovery 
appeared  in  1893,  and  from  the  writer's  description  then  published 
the  following  excerpts  are  reproduced:* 

The  writer  is  pleased  to  report  a  deposit  of  selenite  in  southern 
Utah,  which  is  remarkable  for  the  size,  perfection  and  variety  of  the 
crystals  there  to  be  found.     *     *     * 

The  crystals  occur  in  a  cave,  and  this  is  inclosed  by  a  thick  shell 
forming  a  mound  which  stands  in  relief  on  the  side  of  a  hill  bounding  the 
Wash.  Of  this  formation  a  good  idea  may  be  gained  from  Fig  2,  [No. 
13  of  the  illustrations  presented  herewith]  which  is  reproduced  from  a 
photograph.  The  mound  is  somewhat  of  an  egg-shape,  35  feet  in  length 
east  and  west,  10  feet  in  breadth,  and  of  an  average  height  of  20  feet 
from  the  ground  on  the  lower  side,  all  outside  measurements.  This  selen- 
ite mass  seems  to  have  been  left  exposed  by  the  weathering  of  the  loos- 
ened, friable  sand  and  clay,  of  which  the  hill  whereon  the  mound  is  situ- 


*See  Science,  Vol.  XXI,  No.  524,  February  17,  1893,  pp..  85-6,  "A 
Remarkable  Occurrence  of  Selenite." 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


977 


ated  is  composed.  The  mound  consists  entirely  of  selenite,  the  outside 
having  a  somewhat  battered  and  roughened  appearance  from  the  action 
of  the  wind-driven  sand;  yet  the  whole  exterior  is  made  up  of  the 
exposed  ends  and  sides  of  crystals,  and  in  the  sunlight  the  formation 
glistens  with  indescribable  beauty.  The  outer  walls  are  generally  regu- 
lar, though  there  are  a  few  depressions  and  sheltered  niches,  within 
which  small  prisims  of  selenite  nestle  snugly  in  groups. 

The  entrance  to  the  cavern  faces  the  east,  and  when  first  observed 
by  the  writer  it  was  about  six  feet  in  height,  and  three   and  a  half  in 


19.— OFFICES   OF  THE   DIRECTOR,   DESEBET   MUSEUM. 

width.  The  cave  can  be  traversed  to  the  depth  of  26  feet.  Generally 
the  crystals  project  from  either  side  toward  the  central  line  of  the  cav- 
ern, approaching  each  other  within  about  three  feet,  though  some  of 
the  largest  crystals  extend  entirely  across  the  cavern  like  huge  beams. 
Fig.  3  [No.  14  in  the  present  series]  is  from  a  photograph  of  the 
interior  of  the  cave,  one  massive  crystal  having  been  sawn  off  to  afford 
a  better  view.  The  floor  of  the  cavern  consists  mostly  of  sand,  probably 
deposited  by  water  in  flood  times,  and  carried  in  at  all  seasons  by  winds. 
Projecting  out  of  the  sandy  floor  are  the  terminations  of  many  superb 
crystals.  Inside  the  cavern,  a  yard  from  the  entrance,  the  crystals 
descend  within  three  feet  of  the  bottom,  so  that  one  has  to  stoop  to 
pass;  but  farther  in  there  is  room  to  stand  erect,  and  near  the  back  wall 


978  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

a  person  may  clamber  up  to  a  height  of  fifteen  feet.  Looking  upward 
from  the  bottom  of  the  cavern,  one  sees  a  mass  of  mammoth  prisms, 
suggesting,  but  for  their  singular  beauty,  the  heavy  timbers  of  a  deep 
mine.  The  entire  deposit  is  a  colossal  group  of  crystals,  the  like  of 
which  is  seldom  to  be  seen. 

Prisms  of  perfect  form  and  varying  in  length  from  one  to  five  feet, 
and  in  weight  from  ten  to  one  hundred  pounds,  are  of  frequent  occur- 
rence. One  of  the  most  regular  yet  taken  out  is  four  feet  long,  and  the 
widest  faces  are  six  inches  across.  Cleaved  slabs  are  obtainable  six  feet 
in  length,  and  two  and  a  half  feet  in  breadth.  One  of  the  longest  per- 
fect prisms  yet  obtained  extends  fifty-one  inches,  and  from  one  of  its 
faces  nineteen  smaller  crystals  sprout.  Twins  are  common,  as  are  also 
compound  terminations  of  very  complicated  structure.  A  magnificent 
group,  weighing  over  six  hundred  pounds  was  removed  from  the  floor  of 
the  cavern;  it  was  set  up  on  the  outside  and  photographed  (see  Fig.  4). 
[No.  15  as  here  reproduced.] 

As  to  the  habit  of  the  crystals,  in  the  midst  of  such  variety  it  is 
difficult  to  specify.  Prisms  short  and  stout,  also  long  and  comparatively 
slender,  are  numerous;  and  of  twins,  the  "swallow-tail"  vie  with  the 
cruciform  and  penetration  varieties  in  point  of  abundance  and  perfec- 
tion. Some  of  the  crystals  are  of  perfect  transparency,  and  cleaved 
slabs  of  this  quality  are  common.  Sometimes  the  prisms  inclose  sand 
and  clay,  which  is  so  distributed  as  really  to  add  to  the  beauty  of  the 
crystals  in  the  eyes  of  all  save  the  mineralogist.  When  fracture  planes 
are  made  visible  by  striking  a  crystal  containing  such  impurities,  the 
particles  appear  on  the  internal  planes  as  on  shelves  of  glass. 

In  the  section  devoted  to  paleontology  there  are  large  collec- 
tions of  fossil  forms,  both  originals  and  casts,  the  latter  including 
plaster  reproductions  of  many  of  the  extinct  monsters.  In  this 
section  about  thirteen  hundred  specimens  are  listed.  Among  the 
most  prominent  casts  are  those  of  Mezozoic  reptiles,  including 
land  saurians  (Dinosaurs)  swimming  saurians  (Enaliosaurs)  and  flying 
saurians  (Pterosaurs);  also  heads  of  the  mammoth  and  mastodon, 
with  original  Elephas  fossils  of  local  occurrence;  skulls  of  the 
dinothere,  the  megatherium,  the  titanotherium,  and  replicas  of 
many  other  unique  finds.  An  excellent  specimen  of  the  daemon- 
elix,  commonly  known  as  the  Devil's  Corkscrew,  is  among  the  re- 
cent acquisitions. 

The  exhibits  of  mounted  birds  and  mammals  and  other  verte- 


THE  DESERET  MUSEUM. 


979 


brate  preparations  comprise  about  five  hundred  listed  specimens, 
with  much  additional  material  yet  to  be  mounted.  The  collections 
include  excellent  mounts  of  the  wapiti,  or  elk,  (male,  female  and 
young)  the  prong-horn  antelope  and  other  American  deer,  the  big- 
horn or  mountain  sheep,  an  unusually  large  head  of  the  buffalo  or 
American  bison,  wolverines,   wolves,  badgers,  porcupines,   (local 


20— A  VIEW   IN  THE  LABORATORY. 


and  Asiatic),  and  representatives  of  most  of  the  important  families 
of  birds  native  to  the  West  and  Middle  West. 

There  are  over  seventeen  hundred  listed  shells,  corals  and 
allied  forms;  and  about  six  hundred  mounted  insects,  mostly  of 
local  species. 

The  ethnology  section  derives  special  interest  from  the 
exhibits  of  the  Cliff  Dwellers.  This  collection  comprises  human 
remains  of  men,  women  and  children,  with  a  wide  variety  of  arti- 
facts such  as  tools,  weapons,  ornaments,  sandals  and  other  articles 
of  dress.  The  bodies,  commonly  referred  to  as  mummies,  owe 
their  preservation  in  part  to  a  process  of  partial  embalming, 
but  mainly  to  natural  desiccation  incident  to  their  having  been 


980 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


entombed  in  dry  caverns  or  buried  in  dry,  sandy  earth.  When 
disinterred  each  body  was  wrapped  in  "fur  and  feather  cloth" — a 
fabric  woven  of  rabbit-fur  and  feather-down,  with  a  warp  of  yucca 
fibre.  Most  of  the  bodies  were  found  in  a  reclining  posture  or  in 
a  huddled-up  sitting  position;  though  one — the  body  of  a  man  who, 
judging  from  the  articles  buried  with  him  and  from  the  condition 
of  his  sepulchre,  was  a  person  of  rank  and  importance — is  fully 
extended.     The  desiccation  is  so  nearly  complete,  and  the  actual 


21.— AS  SEEN  FROM   THE  MUSEUM  WINDOWS. 

The  Hotel  Utah,  adjoining  the  site  occupied  bv  the  adobe  hut  in  which  the 
Museum  had  its  beginning  (see  frontispiece  .  the  view  is  taken  looking  east- 
erly on  South  Temple  street. 

decomposition  of  tissue  so  slight,  that  the  hair  is  still  in  place, 
and  even  the  details  of  physiognomy  are  preserved. 

In  addition  to  the  material  illustrative  of  the  life  of  the  Cliff 
Dwellers,  there  are  cases  devoted  to  the  modern  Indians,  particu- 
larly the  Indian  tribes  of  the  West;  to  the  ethnology  of  the  Ha- 
waiians,  the  Maoris,  the  Samoans,  and  the  peoples  of  the  Orient. 
The  ethnological  exhibits  comprise  about  one  thousand  and  fifty 
listed  exhibits. 


982  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

A  section  is  devoted  to  local  history,  and  herein  are  included 
the  extensive  and  valuable  collections  brought  together  by  the 
Daughters  of  the  Utah  Pioneers,  comprising  a  great  array  of 
material  telling  the  story  of  struggle  and  effort  in  the  early  days 
of  Utah's  colonization.  These  invaluable  collections  are  so  exten- 
sive and  varied  as  to  require  a  separate  booklet  for  even  a  general 
description. 

In  this  section  is  preserved  the  pioneer  press,  on  which  was 
printed  the  first  inter-mountain  newspaper — the  Deseret  News,  and 
alongside  is  hung  a  copy  of  the  first  issue,  dated  June  15,  1850. 
Of  special  interest  to  the  people  of  Utah  and  to  the  members  of 
the  "Mormon"  Church,  is  the  press  from  which  issued  the  first 
edition  of  the  Book  of  Mormon,  printed  in  1830.  Among  the  other 
objects  of  special  interest  are  the  artillery  pieces  used  by  the  early 
militia,  and  still  occasionally  called  into  service  in  ceremonial 
salutes. 

In  addition  to  its  exhibition  rooms  the  Museum  is  provided 
with  library  quarters,  in  which  are  preserved  over  two  thousand 
volumes,  either  its  own  possessions  or  loans,  among  which  are 
many  rare  editions  of  increasing  interest  and  value.  There  are 
also  preparation-rooms  and  rooms  for  storage  in  the  well-lighted 
basement,  and  these,  though  spacious,  are  already  taxed  to  their 
capacity. 

The  office  rooms  are  modern  in  arrangement  and  equipment, 
and  no  essential  provision  has  been  omitted.  In  connection  with 
the  director's  office  quarters  is  a  laboratory  admirably  equipped  fur 
investigation  and  research.  Besides  the  usual  provisions  for  hot 
and  cold  water,  electric  current  for  light  and  power,  distilled 
water  apparatus,  gas,  etc.,  there  is  a  specially  constructed  hood 
with  fan  draft,  and  in  addition  a  compressed-air  plant  for  blast 
and  furnace  operations.  A  photographic  dark  room  is  provided 
with  all  needed  accessories. 

In  its  expansion  and  development  the  Museum  has  grown  with 
the  city.  Its  windows  look  upon  stately  structures  that  stand  as 
lasting  monuments  of  energy  and  zeal.  In  its  present  condition 
the  Deseret  Museum  is  at  once  a  consummation  and  a  beginning. 


The  Book  of  Mormon  Originally  Written 
in  Hieroglyphics. 


BY   THOMAS  W.   BROOKBANK. 


III. 

There  are  Jewish  memorials  among  the  ancient  ruins  in 
America. 

The  ancient  American  system  of  writing  having  been  referred 
by  the  founder  of  "Mormonism"  and  others  to  an  Egyptian  origin, 
but  which  they  assert  was  used  in  this  land  by  Jews,  the  ques- 
tion naturally  arises  as  to  what  evidence  can  be  produced  to  sup- 
port the  claim  that  this  land  was  anciently  peopled  by  the  Jews. 
This  matter  is  so  intimately  connected  with  the  other  relating  to 
the  American  hieroglyphical  system  of  writing,  that  it  shall  re- 
ceive some  attention  at  the  present  time. 

It  is  an  undisputed  fact  that  when  a  people  leave  the  land 
of  their  birth  and  education,  and  settle  in  another  country,  they 
take  with  themselves,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  the  sciences,  the 
arts  and  the  customs  of  their  fathers,  and  applying  them  in  their 
new  homes,  raise  up  tokens  or  monuments  by  which  their  racial 
affinity  is  revealed.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  since  the  Book  of 
Mormon  and  the  "Mormon"  people  claim  a  Jewish  parentage  for 
some  of  the  ancient  Americans,  there  should  be  something  some- 
where developed  among  the  relics  of  olden  times  in  this  land  to 
show  the  alleged  connection.  It  is  evidence  of  just  this  kind 
with  which  the  following  remarks  shall  be  occupied,  and  the  basis 
for  them  is  mathematical. 

Let  us,  in  the  first  place,  refresh  our  minds  with  some  facts  con- 
cerning the    Jewish  cubit.  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  in  his  Commentaries  f 


984  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

gives  the  length  of  that  measure  as  twenty-one  and  eight  hundred 
eighty-eight  thousandths  inches.     Dr.  Angus,  in  his   Bible  Hand 
Book  says  it  was  1.824  feet,  which  reduce  to  the  same  figures  in 
inches  as  those  of  Dr.  Clarke.      The  American  Tract  Society  in  its 
Bible  Atlas  and  Gazetteer  gives  1  foot  and  9.888  inches,  or  21.888 
inches  as  in  both  the  other  cases  cited.     This  length  is  therefore 
the  standard  for  the  Jewish  cubit,  as  accepted  by  learned  author- 
ities.    Its  length  was  ascertained  and  fixed  by  careful,  scientific 
investigations  and  measurements.      Now,  what  "chance"  is  there 
that  such  a  measure — running   into  the  uncommonly  used  thous- 
andth part  of  an  inch — will  measure  English  feet  and  inches  in 
any  unprepared  example  with)ut  the  least  fractional  part  over  or 
under?     Doubtful  of  finding  any  examples  close  at  hand,  let  us  go 
down  ti  the  ruined  pahce  at  Palenque,  and,  as  Mr.  Stephens  did, 
(Vol.  II,  page  310)  measure  the  front  of  the  grand  palace  in  that 
ancient  city.     It  is  228  feet  long,  or  exactly  125  Jewish  cubits. 
(228 x  12=2,736;  2,736^-21.888=125).  Notice  how  these  cubits 
have  been  run  off  to  the  easily  reckoned  number  of  125.     In  that 
same  ruined  city  there  is  another  building  which  is  76  feet  long 
(Vol  II,  page  339)  and  these  equal,  without  any  variation,  forty- 
one  and  two-thirds  Jewish  cubits.  (76x12=912;  912-^-21.888= 
41§).  Neither  of  these  lengths  is  a  common  one  in  the  dimensions 
of  buildings;  and  no  one  can  charge  that  Joseph  Smith  or  Sidney 
Rigdon,  or  any  other  "Mormon"  fixed  the  standard  of  the  Jewish 
cubit,  or  built  those  walls  in  Palenque,  or  measured  their  face. 
It  will  doubtless  be  objected  t  tat  the  application  of  a   measure 
forty-one  and  two  thirds  times,  as  in  the  last  example,  is  not  con- 
vincing that  the  cubit  was  used  when  that  76-foot  wall  was  laid  — 
not  so  much  so  as  if  the  number  of  cubits  was  42,  45  or  50,  for 
instance.      In  reply,  it  shall  be  shown  later  how  these  cubits  run- 
ning into  thirds  could   have   been  measured    off  by   a   scientific 
method  which  wholly  obviates  this  objection. 

Other  measurements  which  are  not  very  common  in  walls  or 
masonry  in  general,  are  62  and  31  feet  respectively  (Vol.  II,  page 
344,  and  Ancient  America,  page  142).  62  feet  equal  34  cubits, 
with  a  variation  of  192  of  an  inch,  or  about  one-fifth.  31  feet 
are  17  cubits,  and  the  variation  is  only  .096  of  an  inch,  or  prac- 
tically one-tenth.     With  a  standard  of  one-half  cubit,  21   feet 


THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON  IN  HIEROGLYPHICS.  985 

(A.  A.  page  122)  equal  23  half  cubits,  with  a  variation  of  .288  of 
an  inch.  Another  example  is  four  feet,  seven  inches,  (Vol.  II, 
page  351)  which  are  five  half  cubits  within  .280  of  an  inch.  Taking 
the  third  part  of  a  cubit  into  the  account  we  have,  among 
others,  the  following  comparative  measurements: 

149  feet  equals  81§  cubits  Variation  .480  of    an   inch 

17     "       "        9J        "  "  .288 

28     "       "       15J        "  "  .384 

2  ft.  5  in.  "        1J        "  "  .184 

Out  of  all  the  different  definite  measurements,  except  th^se 
taken  of  the  "slopes"  of  pyramids,  etc.,  and  two  others  (two 
inches  in  one  case,  and  a  fractional  number  in  tenths  in  the  other) 
which  we  have  been  able  to  find  in  the  two  volumes  of  Stephens' 
works  already  mentioned,  and  in  Baldwin's  Ancient  America, 
(excluding  those  given  by  the  latter  of  the  remains  of  the  Mound- 
builders)  making  in  all  one  hundred  and  twenty-five,  there  are 
fifty-two  that  will  measure  in  whole  cubits,  halves  or  thirds, 
with  a  variation  ranging  from  nothing  to  less  than  an  inch, 
or  with  an  average  of  .543  of  an  inch — a  little  more  than  one-half 
— and  for  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  measurements  the  average 
variations  as  found  when  applying  a  standard  no  shorter  than  a 
third  of  a  cubit — that  being  a  fraction  over  seven  inches — is  about  an 
inch  and  a  half.  The  use  of  a  seven-inch  "rule"  allows  room 
for  a  variation  of  several  inches  in  each  case.  A  sixth  of  a 
cubit,  or  less,  was  not  used  in  a  single  one  of  the  tested  examples 
of  comparative  measurements. 

A  very  noticeable  peculiarity  connected  with  the  dimensions 
specified  in  the  volumes  already  named,  is  that  more  than  one-third 
of  them  occur  in  numbers  that  are  multiples  of  five  or  ten,  as,  15, 
20,  25,  30,  etc. ;  and  the  question  naturally  arises  as  to  how  a 
Nephite  measure  of  length  could  be  constructed  scientifically  on 
the  basis  of  the  Jewish  cubit  so  as  to  give  exactly  or  approxi- 
mately such  multiple  dimensions,  and  at  the  same  time  make  these 
and  other  measurements  occur  among  the  Nephites,  not  in  excep- 
tional or  uncommon,  but  in  easily  reckoned  numbers,  or  according 
to  a  corresponding  five  or  ten  multiple  principle,  which  apparently 
was  used  as  the  cited  and  other  numerous  multiple  numbers  indi- 
cate. 


986  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

It  dois  not  seem  possible  on  its  face  that  such  a  measure 
could  be  devised,  and  hence  when  it  is  made  manifest  how  one  of 
that  kind  was  almost  certainly  constructed  and  used,  the  evidence 
becomes  all  the  stronger  that  the  Jewish  cubit  was  the  basis  of 
measurement  when  the  ruined  palaces,  etc.,  of  ancient  America 
were  originally  built. 

Our  "squares"  of  two  feet  are  marked  off  into  twenty-four 
small  sections,  each  called  an  inch.  An  identical  division  of  the 
cubit  into  tventy-four  parts  obtained  among  the  Jews  (see 
The  Bible  Hand  Book,  page  285;  and  the  Am.  T.  Society's  Bible 
Atlas  and  Gazetteer,  page  31).  These  small  cubital  divisions  are 
called  digits,  and  each  was  .912  of  an  inch  in  length,  or  about 
nine-tenths  of  our  inch.  Now,  we  do  not  restrict  ourselves  to  the 
use  of  a  "square"  in  all  cases  when  measuring  distance;  but  often 
employ  other  standards  based  on  the  English  foot,  as,  for  exam- 
ples, a  chain  of  sixty-six  feet,  and  a  tape-line  of  seventy-five  feet 
— the  latter  being  equal  to  nine  hundred  inches. 

The  people  who  lived  in  America  anciently  were  far 
advanced  in  science  and  art,  and  it  is  absurd  to  suppose  that,  in  all 
their  measurements  of  length  or  distance,  they  confined  them- 
selves to  the  use  of  a  "square"  21.888  inches  long.  On  the  con- 
trary, it  appears  that  they  improved  on  our  "tape-line"  of  nine 
hundred  inches,  and  made  one  that  was  an  even  one  thousand 
digits  long. 

This  is  the  longer  hypothetical  measure  used  by  the  Nephites, 
and  it  is  established  as  the  actual  one  just  in  proportion  as  it 
will  fulfil  the  several  requirements  of  the  case  heretofore  noticed. 

Stephens,  as  we  remember,  gives  76  feet  as  the  front  of  one 
of  the  buildings  at  Palenque.  76  jeet  is  the  exact  length  of  the  Ne- 
phite  Jewish  "tape-line"— -1,000  digits  long;  and  referring-  to  a  state- 
ment already  made,  those  41  §  cubits  could  have  been  measured  by 
simply  taking  the  length  of  the  line  once.  The  same  author  gives 
228  feet  as  the  face  of  the  grand  palace  in  that  ruined  city. 
That  building  is  precisely  three,  Nephite  "tape-lines"  long— 1,000 
digits  each.  The  front  of  another  building  (Vol.  II,  page  359) 
is  38  feet.  These  are  without  any  variation  one  half  of  the  line. 
Baldwin  (Ancient  America,  page  135)  gives  19  feet  as  one  of  the 
dimensions  of  a  certain  wall.    19  feet  are  just  one-fourth  oj  the  line. 


THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON  IN  HIEROGLYPHICS. 


987 


These  are  all  the  known  dimensions  which  can  be  measured  by 
the  use  of  the  "line"  without  any  variation;  but  when  we  remem- 
ber that  walls  are  not  often  built  within  a  small  fraction  of  their 
intended  length,  it  is  remarkable  to  find  a  single  one  which  will 
pass  the  test  in  the  manner  just  illustrated.  There  are  others 
which  vary  but  little,  and  among  them  are  the  following  examples; 

inch 


60  fe 
3     * 

et 

equal 

790 
40 

digits 

Variation     .480   of    an 

.480 

1     ' 

6  in 

" 

20 

" 

.240 

250     ' 
16     ' 

i  i 

3,290 
210 

4  4 

.480 
.480 

10     ' 

8  in 

" 

140 

4  4 

.320 

8     ' 

5  in 

4  < 

110 

4  4 

.680 

22     ' 

4  4 

290 

4  4 

.480 

8    ' 

" 

105 

" 

.240 

122     ' 
30     ' 

.« 

1,605 
395 

44 

.240 
.240 

68     ' 

4  4 

895 

44 

.240 

11     ' 

1  4 

145 

4  4 

.240 

160     ' 
70     ' 

4  4 

2,105 
920 

44 
4  4 

.240 
.960 

5     ' 

8  in 

" 

75 

4  4 

.400 

1     ' 

11  ir 

4  4 

25 

4  4 

.200 

27     ' 

" 

355 

»  4 

.240 

2     ' 

8  in 

" 

35 

4  4 

.080 

4     ' 

1  7  in 

4  4 

60 

44 

.280 

147     ' 

a 

1,935 

" 

.720 

Forty-seven  examples  out  of  the  whole  number  (125)  give  an 
average  variation  when  tested  in  the  same  way  of  only  .414  of  an 
inch — a  little  more  than  two-fifths;  and  the  average  for  all  of  them 
does  not  greatly  exceed  an  inch. 

It  may  appear  to  some  readers  who  superficially  scan  the 
foregoing  table,  that  the  standard  of  a  single  digit,  or  only  .912 
of  an  inch  was  used  in  making  these  tests,  but  no  greater  mistake 
can  be  made.  Let  it  be  observed  that  in  one  of  these  examples 
the  variation  is  more  than  a  digit,  and  that  every  one  of  the  num- 
bers standing  for  the  digits  is  a  multiple  of  five  or  ten,  and  from 
this  fact  it  is  manifest  to  all  that  practically  the  standard  used  was 
not  a  single  digit,    but  blocks  of  five  or  ten  of  them  taken  together. 


988 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


This  circumstance  puts  a  very  different  phase  on  the  matter,  and 
that  hypothetical  "tape-line"  of  1,000  digits  appears  to  be  fairly 
well  established  as  an  actuality. 

A  people  who  were  sufficiently  advanced  in  practical  science 
to  construct  a  line,  or  chain,  1,000  digits  long,  could  not  fail  to 
see  the  advantage  of  marking  it  off  into  sections  containing  500, 
250,  100,  50,  10  and  5  digits  respectively,  and  it  would  then 
apply  in  practice  as  follows:  For  four  feet  seven  inches  they  would 
take  six  of  the  ten-digit  sections.  For  seventy  feet,  nine  of  the 
hundred-digit,  and  two  of  the  ten-digit  divisions,  would  equal  them. 
For  eight  feet  five  inches,  one  of  the  hundred  and  one  of  the  ten- 
digit  sections  would  measure  it.  For  250  feet,  they  could  run  off 
three  full  chains  and  two  of  the  hundred  and  nine  of  the  ten-digit 
divisions;  and  do  the  work  with  little  mental  exertion,  not  only  in 
these,  but  in  all  the  examples  (125)  tested;  and,  if  one  is  so  dis- 
posed, fractions  can  be  eliminated  from  the  reckoning  by  taking  a 
block  of  five  digits  as  a  unit. 

[the  end.] 


Snowflakk,  Arizona. 


Thomas  R.  Jones,  Columbia, 
elders  of  that  place  have  been 
having  very  good  success  in  dis- 
tributing from  one  hundred  to 
one  hundred  and  fifty  tracts  and 
holding  from  four  to  eight  well- 
attended  meetings  every  week. 
"We  have  many  friends  and  a 
few  enemies,  and  are  well 
treated."  The  elders  in  the 
picture,  from  left  to  right, 
are,  back,  George  W.  Graff, 
Cannonville,  Utah.  Bottom  row: 
Thomas  E.  Jones,  Malad  City, 
Idaho;  David  Harmon,  Calder's 
Station,  Utah;  Arnold  B.  Call, 
Chesterfield,  Idaho. 


South  Carolina,  May  23,  says  that  the 


Word  Pictures  of  the  Yellowstone. 

ALFRED    LAMBOURNE 

IV 
HELL'S  HALF  ACRE— MIDDLE  BASIN 


FLOWING  through  a  narrow  valley  is  seen  a  clear,  green 
river.  On  one  hand  is  a  broad  field  of  ashen  gray,  with 
wells  and  cauldrons  sunk  in  its  surface,  and  filled  with 
sulphurous  waters,  trembling  like  liquid  fire,  or  sleeping  in 
sombre  indigo.  One  cauldron  is  edged  around  with  white  and  yel- 
low geyserine,  and  is  being  slowly  undermined,  its  walls  sinking 
piecemeal  into  the  pool  below.  On  one  side  of  this  cauldron  is  an 
opening  through  which  its  waters  empty  into  the  passing  Fire  Hole 


Photo  by  Hugo  B.  Ande 


River.  This,  the  Cliff  Cauldron,  or  Excelsior  Geyser,  whose  erup- 
tions shake  the  surrounding  earth.  Now  nothing  but  pearly-tinted 
steam  rises  from  off  its  surface,  and  melts  into  the  ultra-marine  sky 
above.  Near  by,  on  the  same  huge  mound,  is  the  Prismatic  Lake — 
beautiful  even  if  terrible;  its  blue  and  green  limpid  depths  gleaming 
with  evil  light,  as  the  eyes  of  a  tempting  demon..  Streams  of  the 
surplus  waters  traverse  the  ashen  fields,  encrusting  their  backs  with 
deposits  of  brilliant  red  and  yellow.  On  the  other  hand,  across  the 
river,  is  greensward  dotted  with  trees  and  enriched  with  a  profusion 
cf  wild  flowers — a  bit  of  the  Fields  of  Lethe,  bordering  upon  the 
City  of  Dis. 


From  Range  to  Rostrum. 

BY    LELLA   MARLER   HOGGAN. 


V.— Cleaning  up  the  "Joint." 

For  several  weeks  Phil  had  spent  an  occasional  evening 
away  from  his  room.  More  than  once  Walter  had  questioned 
him  concerning  his  whereabouts,  but  he  had  always  jokingly  evaded 
the  question.  Finally,  however,  he  began  to  absent  himself  more 
frequently  and  Walter  insisted  on  knowing  where  he  spent  hia 
evenings.     Driven  to  the  wall  he  was  forced  to  reply. 

"Well,  Walt,"  he  growled  desperately,  "we've  got  a  joint 
down  town  all  to  ourselves.  But  things  ain't  panned  out  like  we 
calculated,  and  we're  goin'  to  have  a  cleanin'  up  right  away  now. 
You  needn't  say  anything  about  it,  though,  'cause  you  know  a 
feller  likes  to  hand  in  his  own  report." 

Walter  had  confidence  in  Phil,  and  so  he  let  the  matter  drop. 
And  the  "cleanin'  up"  that  Phil  spoke  of  came  sooner  than  he 
himself  had  expected,  for  the  dive  lost  its  identity  that  very 
night,  and  newer,  better  things  came  to  take  its  place. 

There  was  a  vacant  store  room  down  town  at  the  back  of  one 
of  the  hotels,  and  here  several  boys  had  collected  for  a  social 
game  of  cards  now  and  then.  There  was  not  a  gymnasium  or 
reading  room  in  town,  and  when  some  of  the  country  boys  had 
become  tired  of  the  sight  of  books,  out  of  sheer  desperation  they 
had  provided  this  pastime  for  themselves.  But  graver  evils  had 
followed  in  the  wake  of  the  cards— sometimes  they  played  for 
money,  and  sometimes  there  was  whisky  or  tobacco,  or  both,  and 
always  there  was  profanity.  There  had  been  no  corrupt  stories, 
for  the  obvious  reason  that  Phil  Sherwood  and  some  other  fellows 


FROM  RANGE  TO  ROSTRUM.  991 

like  him  would  not  "stand  fer  it."  Only  once  had  any  one 
attempted  to  tell  a  vile  joke  in  which  a  woman's  honor  was  impli- 
cated. That  one  was  Henry  Owens,  and  Phil  had  hushed  him 
hurriedly  with, 

"Look  here,  Hen  Owens,  I  know  this  ain't  no  prayer-meetin', 
but  you  can  cut  that  talk  short  right  here.  We  don't  care  about 
aiy  such  rot.  My  mother's  a  woman,  I'd  like  to  have  you  know." 

"Yes,  and  you  don't  need  to  think  you're  the  only  man  that's 
got  a  mother,  either,"  put  in  one  of  the  boys.  And  Owens'  ill- 
temper  for  the  rest  of  the  evening  served  as  a  jest  for  the  crowd. 

As  the  social  game  of  cards  developed  into  something  worse, 
more  than  once  the  boys  had  promised  themselves  that  they  would 
find  some  better  place  of  amusement.  Still  they  continued  to 
come.  On  that  last  night  Phil  was  late,  and  when  he  came  in  he 
could  tell  that  some  of  the  boys  had  been  drinking.  In  fact, 
Owens  was  so  intoxicated  as  not  to  be  responsible  for  all  he  said. 
More  than  once  he  attempted  to  tell  some  vile  story,  but  was 
hushed  up.  Finally  he  drew  a  bottle  from  his  pocket,  and  pro- 
posed a  toast.  His  thick  lips  could  scarcely  pronounce  the  words. 
As  soon  as  he  made  it  clear  to  the  boys  that  the  person  he  meant 
to  toast  was  Lottie  Carey,  Phil  stopped  him  short. 

"Not  another  word,  Hen  Owens!" 

"And  what's — what's  she  to— to— you?"  he  drawled,  with  an 
oath.     But  he  raised  his  glass  and  began  his  toast  again. 

Phil  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant,  and  his  hand  was  at 
Owens'  throat. 

"She's  a  woman,  and  a  lady;  and  though  I'm  only  an  ignor- 
ant cow-puncher,  I  want  to  tell  you  I'm  man  enough  to  choke  the 
life  out  of  a  cur  like  you,  if  you  take  her  name  on  your  foul  lips!" 

The  boys  managed  to  settle  the  affair  quietly,  but  they  all 
knew  in  their  hearts  that  the  dive  was  another  dead  measure,  and 
that  Phil  had  dealt  the  death  blow. 

Owens  persisted  in  trying  to  explain  in  his  drunken  way  that 
he  had  a  right  to  drink  a  toast  to  the  lady  in  question,  inasmuch  as 
he  had  been  her  avowed  escort  all  fall.  But  Phil  was  in  no  mood 
for  his  drunken  explanations. 

"Shut  up,  Hen  Owens,"  he  said  savagely,  "or  I'll  choke  you 
yet!     No  man  has  the  right  to  speak  the  name  of  a  decent  woman 


992  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

when  his  lips  are  thick  with  whisky.  Besides,  'tain't  an  hour 
since  a  vile  jest  was  in  your  mouth.  Now  attempt  to  mention  a 
decent  woman,  if  you  dare,  and  it'll  mean  slow  tunes  and  flowers 
fer  you,  let  me  promise  you!" 

That  was  on  Friday  night.  Phil  was  appointed  speaker. 
Accordingly,  on  Monday,  with  many  misgivings  in  his  own  heart 
and  many  encouraging  words  from  the  boys,  he  prepared  to  "tread 
the  carpet;"  for  the  faculty  would  have  to  know.  He  had  reported 
to  the  principal,  but  that  dignitary  thought  it  would  be  better  for 
him  to  tell  his  story  himself.  That  was  an  evening  never  to  be 
forgotten  by  Phil.  He  did  not  mince  matters  in  the  least.  In 
his  blunt,  original,  cow-boy  manner  he  told  the  whole  story,  assum- 
ing the  major  part  of  the  blame.  There  was  only  one  part  he 
withheld,  and  that  was  Owens'  ccnnection  with  the  affair, 

"If  it  hadn't  been  fer  a  stray  cur  askin'  himself  in,  we 
wouldn't  'a'  had  no  booze,"  he  said.  But  neither  President 
Hughes  nor  all  the  faculty  could  persuade  him  to  divulge  the 
name  of  that  "stray  cur."  "No,"  said  Phil  pleasantly,  "he  ain't 
got  our  brand  on,  and  he  don't  bunch  with  us,  and  'tain't  no  busi- 
ness o'  mine  what  he  does." 

VI.- — Discussing  the  Incident. 

At  the  close  of  the  interview  Phil  walked  home  silently,  and 
sat  grimly  gazing  into  the  fire,  waiting  for  Walter  to  come  so  he 
could  tell  him  all  about  it.  He  knew  that  he  had  betrayed  Walt's 
confidence,  in  a  way,  and  he  wanted  to  offer  his  apology. 

"Well,  boy,  what's  gone  wrong  this  time?"  questioned 
Walter,  coming  in  on  him  rather  suddenly. 

"Nothin',"  replied  Phil.  "We've  fixed  it  all  up  now.  Only 
I'd  like  to  tell  you  about  it.  I'm  sorry  about  that  dive,  Walt. 
Dad'll  be  sorry,  too.  'Cause  I  ought  to  'a'  told  you  right  at 
first.  But  dad  or  the  teachers  or  none  of  'em  won't  blame  you, 
Walt.     I've  told  'em  you  didn't  know  nothin'  about  it." 

"Then  you've  reported  to  the  faculty,  have  you?" 

"Yes,"  drawled  Phil.  "But  they  knew  all  about  it  long 
ago.  They've  been  layin'  for  us;  and  if  we  hadn't  'a'  cleaned  the 
thing  out,  they  would  of.     We  didn't  know  it,  though." 


FROM  RANGE  TO  ROSTRUM.  993 

"Go  after  you  pretty  hard,  did  they?"  questioned  Walter, 
drawing  a  chair  up  to  the  fire  alongside  of  Phil's. 

"No;  not  any  harder'n  we  deserved,  I  guess.  You  know  it's 
pretty  hard  on  a  bunch  of  fellers  like  us,  that's  been  used  to 
runnin'  loose  all  the  year  round,  to  be  hitched  up  as  soon  as  we're 
roped,  and  to  have  to  step  around  in  a  trottin' -harness  all  day. 
By  the  time  school's  out,  I  tell  ycu,  we're  ready  to  make  fer  the 
pasture.  But  there  didn't  seem  to  be  no  pasture  here,  not  even  a 
grazin'-field;  so  we  felt  obliged  to  make  one.  Us  fellers  have  tried 
to  live  up  to  them  rules.  Most  of  us  have  cut  out  the  drinkin'  and 
smokin'  and  saloons,  and  such  things.  'Course,  the  swearin'  that's 
different.  A  feller  can't  learn  a  new  language  in  six  weeks.  We 
didn't  intend  to  make  a  bad  place  of  it  when  we  started  out,  but 
we  had  to  go  some  place  to  gtt  a  breathin'  spell  from  the  books 
and  lectures  and  things,  and  that  was  the  first  place  we  struck,  so 
we  flung  the  pasteboards  and  stacked  the  chips.  I  told  the  teach- 
ers all  about  it,  and  they  seemed  to  understand  just  how  we  felt. 
In  fact,  they've  been  gefctin'  a  place  fixed  up  fer  the  boys  where 
they  can  go  and  have  games  and  sports  and  such  things.  I  felt 
like  a  whipped  cur  when  President  Hughes  told  me  that.  But  I've 
give  him  my  word  of  honor  that  us  fellers' 11  cut  out  the  cards  and 
drinkin'  and  smokin'  and  I  know  the  boys'll  stay  by  m^in  it.  We 
made  a  kind  of  a  rule,  too,  amongst  ourselves  to  cut  out  the 
swearin,'  but  I  didn't  tell  him  about  that." 

'  'Well,  Phil,  I'm  proud  of  you  tonight.  Your  mother  will  be 
the  happiest  woman  in  the  state  when  she  sees  you  next  spring. 
And  now,  in  return  for  all  this  good  news  you've  been  telling  me, 
I  have  a  piece  of  sad  news  to  tell  you.  Henry  Owens  has  com- 
mitted more  than  one  serious  offense  against  the  school,  and  he 
refuses  to  let  the  school  dictate  to  him  in  the  matter.  So  he  will 
have  to  take  the  consequences.  He  is  a  member  of  our  class,  and 
President  Hughes  told  me  tonight  that  tomorrow  morning  he  will 
be  suspended  from  school." 

"I  reckon  he  knew  who  the  'stray  cur'  was  all  the  time!" 
ejaculated  Phil,  when  Walter  had  finished. 

"The  stray  cur?"  questioned  Walt. 

"Yes;  Owens  is  the  feller  that  brought  the  whisky  into  our 
'joint.'     But  we  talked  it  over  and  decided  not  to  give  him  away. 


994  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

So  we  just  told  the  teachers  it  was  a  stray  cur.  President  Hughes 
seemed  to  be  quite  anxious  about  his  name,  but  I  guess  he  knew  all 
right,  all  the  time." 

"Yes,"  laughed  Walter,  "I  think  he  knows  that  Owens  is 
the  'stray  cur,'  all  right." 

"Well,  Walt,  Owens  is  no  good  at  all.  There's  a  man  that 
ought  to  beg  his  own  pardon  every  night  and  morning  fer  keep  in' 
company  with  himself.  It  must  make  a  feller  feel  like  the  devil  to 
be  in  bad  company  all  the  time." 

VIL— "Mother  Will  be  Glad." 

Phil  had  given  his  word  of  honor  that  he  would  live  up  to  the 
rules  of  the  school.  And  that  meant  everything  to  Phil.  Never 
once  did  he  waver  in  his  purpose.  Sometimes  temptation  crowded 
upon  him,  but  with  set  jaw  and  clenched  fists  the  big  fellow  kept 
to  his  purpose.  He  had  registered  his  word  with  God  to  make  a 
man  of  himself, and  he  forged  ahead  fearlessly,  knowing  that  divine 
help  is  forever  at  hand  when  a  man  struggling  for  righteousness 
falls  short. 

Walter  gave  his  assistance,  not  only  to  Phil  but  to  the  entire 
group  of  boys  who  were  struggling  to  overcome  their  crude 
manner  of  expression.  Through  the  long  weeks  Phil  studied  and 
worked  and  prayed  and  grew  in  strength  of  character.  After  a 
long  meditation  before  the  fire  he  would  often  break  the  silence 
with, 

"Its  a  funny  thing,  ain't  it,  Walt,  how  God  took  the  responsi- 
bility of  makin'  a  man  of  me.  It's  no  trouble  at  all  to  do  the 
right  thing,  if  you  just  have  the  right  kind  of  backin',  is  it?" 

And  he  usually  concluded  in  a  low  tone,  "Mother'll  be  ever 
so  glad!" 

VIL — Chosen  President  of  the  Student  Body. 

At  holiday  time  the  president  of  the  student  body  was  com- 
pelled to  discontinue  school.  This  necessitated  a  re-election  of 
officers  which  took  place  during  the  first  week  of  the  second 
semester.  The  students  were  bubbling  over  with  patriotism  and 
their  enthusiastic  campaigning  would  have  ended  in  a  riot  had  not 
President  Hughes  and  several  of  the  teachers  come  to  the  rescue. 


FROM  RANGE  TO  ROSTRUM.  995 

The  country  students  with  one  voice  had  nominated  Philip  Sher- 
wood for  the  office  of  president.  Phil  was  at  once  flattered  and 
surprised,  but  he  flatly  refused  to  run.  However,  the  students 
would  name  no  substitute,  and  in  spite  of  his  objections  his  name, 
headed  the  list  of  nominees.  The  school  was  divided  into  factions 
and  the  interest  ran  high.  Class  mottoes  and  banners  were  in 
evidence  in  the  balloting  room, and  the  air  reverberated  with  school 
yells,  class  yells,  and  faction  yells  composed  off-hand  for  the  occa- 
sion. And  the  campaigning  was  kept  up  all  afternoon  as  lustily 
as  it  might  have  been  for  a  presidential  election.  At  last  it  was 
all  over,  and  the  judges  of  the  election  came  in  and  declared  the 
result  of  their  count;  and  to  the  surprise  of  the  faculty  and  the 
advanced  students,  and  to  the  complete  embarrassment  of  Philip 
Sherwood,  he  was  declared  president  of  the  student  body. 

"I  can't  do  it,  Walt!"  he  confessed  bluntly,  when  they  were 
alone  in  their  room.  "I  don't  have  any  idea  what  ought  to  be 
done." 

But  Walter  pledged  himself  to  stand  by  Phil  and  help  him 
to  fill  the  office  creditably,  and  he  kept  his  word. 

IX.— A  Timely  Rescue. 

That  evening  as  Phil  was  following  a  path  through  some 
vacant  lots,  to  cut  off  a  quarter  of  a  mile  walk  on  his  way  home 
from  an  out-of-town  social,  he  was  startled  by  a  woman's  scream, 
and  turning  about  quickly,  was  completely  overwhelmed  when 
Lottie  Carey  almost  threw  herself  into  his  arms,  sobbing  with 
fear. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Sherwood,  you  will  protect  me,  won't  you?  Don't 
let  him  touch  me,  please,  please  don't!" 

And  before  Phil  had  time  to  ask  any  questions  Henry  Owens 
came  up  panting  and  cursing  in  thick,  drunken  accents. 

Phil  did  not  wait  for  any  explanations.  His  big  fist  shot  out 
quickly  and  in  another  moment  Owens  was  wallowing  in  the  snow, 
trying  in  vain  to  regain  his  footing.  He  began  cursing  again 
when  he  recognized  Phil,  and  for  a  moment,  forgetting  Lottie's 
presence,  he  fell  into  his  old  manner  of  speech. 

"Law,  Hen,  you're  too  foul  to  make  good  coyote  bait!     A 


996  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

respectable  prairie  dog'  'lid'  leave' you  any  time  to  feed  off'm  a 
dead  horse." 

Owens  demanded  the  lady,  declaring  over  and  over  that  he 
would  protect  her. 

"Yes,  like  a  wolf'd  protect  a  pet  lamb!"  glared  Phil,  drawing 
Lottie's  arm  through  his  tenderly.  You'd  better  get  back  to  bed, 
Owens,  as  soon  as  you  can  make  your  way  home,  or  you'll  be  in 
worse  trouble  than  you  are  now.  I've  often  wondered  why  God 
let's  such  fellers  as  you  run  loose.  Of  course,  we  have  mosquitos 
and  skunks  in  the  world,  and  maybe  everything  is  put  here  for 
some  purpose,  even  stray  curs  like  yourself.  But  what  that  pur- 
pose is  God  knows,  I'm  sure  I  don't!" 

X. — Phil's  Dream  of  Life  Come  True. 

Turning  abruptly  about,  he  and  Lottie  Carey  walked  quickly 
and  silently  on  until  they  reached  Lottie's  own  door. 

"Mr.  Sherwood,"  she  said  tremulously,  "how  can  I  ever 
thank  you  enough  for  your  kindness?" 

"Oh,  that's  nothing,  Miss  Carey,  don't  speak  of  it,"  he 
replied  gallantly. 

His  big,  strong  hand  was  trembling  more  than  the  little  white 
hand  she  had  held  out  to  him.  But  he  was  afraid  of  his  own 
heart  rather  than  the  drunken  man.  Lottie  explained  to  him  how 
Owens  had  followed  her  from  an  officers'  meeting,  and  how  he  had 
attempted  to  kiss  her. 

"The  dog!"  said  Phil.  "I  wish  I  had  given  him  more 
blows." 

The  two  stood  silent  in  the  cold,  moonlight  night.  Presently 
Lottie  said, 

"I  have  heard  how  gallantly  you  protected  me  from  that  man's 
slurs  once  before,  Mr.  Sherwood,  and  I  want  to  thank  you  for  it. 
I  am  sure  I  did  not  deserve  it,  after  what  I  had  said  about  your 
being  a  cow-boy." 

Phil  did  not  know  what  to  say,  so  he  kept  silent.  And  Lottie 
continued, 

"I  did  not  mean  to  hurt  your  feelings,  Mr.  Sherwood,  but 
my  class  had  twitted  me  about  you  until  I  did  it  in  sheer  desper- 
ation, just  to  show  them  that  I  dared." 


FROM  RANGE  TO  ROSTRUM.  997 

A  strange  wonder  was  born  in  Phil's  heart,  and  he  voiced  it 
half  to  himself  and  half  to  her. 

"Twitted  you  about  me?     And  why?" 

Lottie  avoided  his  earnest  gaze.  Her  eyes  fell,  and  a  crimson 
flush  overspread  her  face. 

"I  had  said  kind  things  about  you,"  she  said  simply. 

Phil's  big  hand  impulsively  clasped  the  little,  white  one  again. 
He  compelled  her  to  look  into  his  earnest  face. 

"Then  you  do  not  hate  me,"  he  asserted  half  defiantly. 

"How  could  any  one  hate  you?"  was  all  Lottie  could  find 
to  say. 

Then  the  stars  rocked  before  Phil's  gaze,  and  he  felt  as 
frightened  as  a  prisoner  at  the  bar.  Was  it  really  possible  that 
this  beautiful  little  woman  cared  for  a  big,  ignorant  fellow  like 
him?  He  tried  to  voice  the  song  in  his  heart,  but  the  words  caught 
in  his  throat.  There  was  nothing  he  could  say,  so  he  stooped  and 
kissed  the  little  woman. 

She  did  not  scream  or  run  away,  or  even  chide  him.  And  he 
knew  that  the  best  dream  of  his  life  had  come  true. 

"I  have  no  words  to  tell  you  what  is  in  my  heart,"  he  said, 
"but  you  understand,  don't  you?" 

"Yes,  I  understand.  And  I  am  very,  very  happy."  Her  voice 
sank  to  a  whisper. 

"Someday,"  said  Phil,  "when  I  have  finished  my  school  work, 
when  I  have  made  a  man  of  myself,  I'll  be  able  to  say  the 
words." 

"And  until  then  we  shall  keep  our  sweet  secret  all  to  our- 
selves," she  said.  "But  you  must  never  forget  that  I  am  always 
waiting  and  hoping  and  praying  for  you." 

"If  you  do  that  I  cannot  fail!"  he  whispered  sincerely. 

And  then  he  felt  two  little  hands  clasping  his  own.  For  one 
moment  he  felt  her  warm  breath  on  his  cheek. 

"Good  night  and  God  bless  you!"  was  all  she  said,  and  then 
she  was  gone,  and  Phil  stood  alone  in  the  moonlight,  wondering  if 
fate  really  meant  it. 

(the  end.) 

Lewisville,  Idaho. 


That  Comrade  of  my  Dreams. 


(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 


When  the  days  are  bright  and  sunny, 

And  the  sky's  the  nicest  blue, 
And  the  trees  are  tellin'  stories 

Just  so  like  they  used  to  do; 
By  a  moss-grown  mill  I  wander, 

Where  a  silv'ry  river  gleams 
Through  a  fringe  of  tall  tigalders, 

With  that  comrade  of  my  dreams. 


I  can  see  the  dim,  blue  mountains 

Through  the  Indian  Summer  haze, 
An'  the  canyons  black  and  purple 

As  they  were  in  by-gone  days; 
I  can  hear  the  chip-munk  chirpin', 

An'  the  eagle's  lusty  screams, 
As  I  stand,  my  soul  enraptured— 

By  that  comrade  of  my  dreams. 


Then  we  wander  through  the  meadow, 
By  the  big,  old  cottonwood, 

Where  the  swing  was  made  in  summer, 
And  the  quaint,  old  bow'ry  stood; 


THAT  COMRADE  OF  MY  DREAMS. 


999 


Then  once  more  I  hear  her  laughter, - 
Sweetest  melody  it  seems — 

As  I  swing  her  to  the  branches — 
That  sweet  comrade  of  my  dreams. 


There's  a  path  we  lov'd  to  travel, 

Where  it  curved  an'  wound  along 
Through  the  golden-rod  an'  red- top, 

An'  the  hawthorns  big  an'  strong; 
An'  just  where  the  cat-tails  rally 

In  the  sun's  last  ruddy  beams, 
There  [  told  the  old,  old  story 

To  the  comrade  of  my  dreams. 


Then  the  path  winds  by  the  school  house 
Where  as  boy  and  girl  we  played, 

An'  on  past  the  little  cottage 

.    Where  as  man  an'  wife  we  prayed; 

An'  over  the  wooden  foot-bridge — 
There  a  lonely,  white  stone  gleams 

Which  I  bathe  in  tears  an'  roses 
For  that  comrade  of  my  dreams. 


But  when  my  poor  heart  is  weary 

With  the  burdens  of  the  day, 
An'  the  cares  of  life  are  crowding 

All  along  my  lonely  way; 
Oft  I  feel  her  presence  near  me — 

A  sweet  influence  it  seems — 
An'  I  smile  in  sweet  contentment 

At  the  comrade  of  my  dreams. 

H.  R.  Merrill. 


Presion,   Idaho,  June  21,   iqu 


A  Day  With  Carry  Nation. 

BY  NEPHI   ANDERSON,    AUTHOR    OF    "ADDED   UPON,"    "THE  CASTLE 
BUILDER,"  "DAUGHTER  OF  THE  NORTH,"  ETC. 


We  left  Kansas  Citv  for  the  West  on  the  evening  of  Septem- 
ber 17,  1906.  The  train  was  belated,  and  we  found  ourselves  next 
morning  rolling  slowly  over  the  rain-soaked  plains  of  Kansas.     As 

the  morning  advanced  there  was  a 
general  awakening  among  the  pas- 
sengers, an  adjustment  of  chairs  and 
the  making  of  toilets,  in  which  Elder 
Delbert  Stanger  and  I  took  part.  We 
were  returning  "Mormon"  mission- 
aries. Elder  Stanger  had  labored  in 
x^ustralia,  and  was  coming  home  by 
way  of  Europe,  thus  making  a  com- 
plete tour  of  the  world.  We  had 
been  companions  from  Liverpool. 

Directly  across  the  aisle  from  us 
sat  a  "striking"  looking  w^man.  She 
was  large,  both  in  bone  and  muscle.  Her  dress  was  severely  black, 
and  when  she  had  readjusted  her  toilet  for  the  day  she  had  on  a 
small,  Quaker- looking,  black  bonnet.  Her  black  hair  was  sprin- 
kled generously  with  gray.  Her  nose  was  rather  small  and  sunk- 
en, but  she  had  a  prominent  lower  jaw,  and  lips  that  indicated  the 
firmness  of  a  vise.  When  she  talked,  which  she  was  not  timid  in 
doing,  it  was  in  a  high,  clear  voice  that  could  be  heard  in  all 
parts  of  the  car.  1  She  attracted  our  attention  from  the  first. 

Presently  every]  one  in  'the  car  was  startled  by  the  woman 


A  DAY  WITH  CARRY  NATION. 


1001 


standing  on  her  feet,  and  repeating  in  a  loud  voice  one  of  the 
psalms  of  David.  After  the  recitation,  she  spoke  for  a  few 
minutes  by  way  of  praise  unto  the  Lord.  Then  she  said,  "Let 
us  pray,"  and  kneeling  by  her  seat  she  uttered  a  prayer  that  could 
be  heard  in  every  part  of  the  car.  Then  she  arose  to  her  feet 
again,  and  by  way  of  explanation  to  the  astonished  passengers,  she 
said,  "I  give  my  first  and  best  efforts  to  God." 

As  we  were   still  wondering  what  it  all  meant,  we  saw  the 


QcuiA^?  fa.   i/Va£^ 


••Behold,  I  have  czealed  the  smith  that  htoweth  the  coals  in  the  fire, 
and  that  bringeth  forth  an  instrument  fot  his  woz/t;  and  I  have  cieated 
the  waster,  to  destroy.  "■•■Isaiah  LiV.  i6. 


The  Home  Defender. 


The  Home  Builder 


'^ '.'.■■  ■///.-::  -.-.-;  ?■■  ■'/.'-,:?■ '".: 


%  it  evei  so  humble,  there's  no  place  like  home.  " 


S  CtB  per  Copy  GUTHRIE,  OKLA.  SEPTEMBER  I,    1 906  25  Cts.  per  Year 


FRONT  COVER  DESIGN   OF  MRS.  NATION'S   MONTHLY   MAGAZINE,  "THE    HATCHET," 
WITH   HER   SIGNATURE. 

woman  take  from  her  hand-bag  a  number  of  papers,  go  forward 
to  the  front  of  the  car,  turn  to  the  passengers  and  thus  address 
them: 

"I  am  Carry  Nation.  I  have  copies  of  my  paper,  The 
Hatchet,  which  I  sell  for  five  cents.  The  newspapers  of  this 
country  have  abused  me  and  misrepresented  me,  and  I  am  publish- 
ing this  paper  in  self-defense.  Each  paper  bears  my  signature, 
and  you  may  say  you  got  it  from  Carry  Nation  herself.  No  one 
seems  to  know  how  to  spell  my  name.  It  is  C-a-r-r-y,  not 
C-a-r-r-i-e,  as  you  will  see." 

Then  she  came  down  the  aisle,  and  readily  disposed  of  her 
papers. 


1002  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

After  a  time  I  began  conversation  with  her  across  the  aisle. 
I  asked  her  how  the  work  of  prohibition  was  prospering,  and  we 
talked  pleasantly  on  kindred  subjects  for  some  time.  Then  I 
handed  her  my  card,  I  must  say,  not  without  some  fear. 

"You  are  a  'Mormon'  are  you?"  she  asked. 

"Yes,"  I  replied. 

"Well,"  she  said,  "there  are  some  good  people  among  the 
'Mormons,'  of  course;  but  polygamy  damns  you  all." 

Just  then,  to  my  great  relief,  a  party  of  four  or  five  young 
men  came  in  from  another  car.  They  had  heard  that  the  saloon 
smasher  was  on  the  train,  and  they  came  to  see.  They  stopped  by 
Mrs.  Nation's  seat  and  shook  hands  with  her,  as  if  they  were 
acquaintances.  Some  of  them  had  been  drinking  already,  and  it 
did  not  take  long  for  Mrs.  Nation  to  discover  the  fact.  Then  she 
denounced  them  roundly,  which  the  young  fellows  took  good- 
naturedly  enough. 

"I  know  it's  wrong  to  drink,  Mrs.  Nation,"  said  one  of  them; 
"but  I  can't  quit — I'm  too  weak." 

"Too  weak!"  she  replied  scornfully.  "Be  a  man,  don't  be  a 
slave.     Only  cowards  give  up  to  such  an  enemy  as  whisky." 

They  talked  back  and  forth  for  some  time.  Then,  when  the 
young  fellows  would  listen,  she  told  them  of  the  home  for  drunk- 
ards' wives  which  she  was  establishing  in  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 
"Such  men  as  you  ought  to  help  me,"  she  said. 

"How  much  do  you  want?"  asked  one  who  was  in  the 
"good-natured"  drunken  state. 

"You  ought  to  give  me  five  hundred  dollars,  at  least,"  she 
said.     "It  would  not  hurt  you  a  bit." 

The  young  man  took  out  his  check  book.  He  couldn't  give 
that  much,  he  .'aid.  How  would  a  hundred  do?  There  was  some 
parleying,  then  the  young  fellow  put  his  book  back  into  his 
pocket  and  walked  away.  I  believe  I  was  as  much  disappointed 
as  was  Mrs.  Nation. 

After  the  crowd  had  left,  she  came  back  at  Elder  Stanger  and 
me.  Perhaps  she  had  to  have  it  out  of  somebody  after  that  mean 
trick  the  young  fellow  had  played  on  her,  and  here  were  two 
"Mormons"  within  arm's  reach.  She  pounced  on  us  vigorously, 
talking  loudly  and  boldly  about  the    "Mormons"  and  their  "vile 


A  DAY  WITH  CARRY  NATION.  1003 

practices."  We  did  not  wish  to  enter  into  a  discussion  with  her, 
but  she  at  last  forced  us  to  say  something  in  defense.  All  in  the 
car  knew  by  this  time  that  their  stock  of  curiosities  had  been 
augmented  by  the  addition  of  two  "real,  live,  'Mormon'  elders," 
so  they  crowded  around  us  to  enjoy  the  novel  spectacle.  As 
Mrs.  Nation  wildly  denounced  us,  she  nourished  a  large  Bible, 
which  she  said  was  the  only  hatchet  she  now  used.  I  referred 
her  to  a  few  passages  in  her  Hatchet,  and  asked  her  to  read  them, 
which  she  did.  But  she  launched  nut  again  in  a  stream  of  talk. 
It  was  impossible  to  hold  her  to  a  given  point  until  that  was  dis- 
posed of.  She  would  fly  from  one  topic  to  another  with  lightning 
rapidity.  And  how  she  did  talk!  Her  words  came  in  a  continuous 
stream,  loud  and  strong.  Whenever  1  could  "get  in  a  word  edge- 
wise," which  was  not  often,  I  spoke  in  a  moderate  tone;  there- 
fore the  people  in  the  farther  end  of  the  car  came  nearer  to  lis- 
ten. I  gave  up  trying  to  say  anything.  We  were  literally  beaten 
down  by  the  force  of  words,  and  at  last,  when  there  was  a  calm 
in  the  storm  so  that  I  could  be  heard,  I  called  the  listeners' 
attention  to  the  fact  that  it  was  not  our  fault  that  Mrs.  Nation's 
statements  were  not  answered.  We  could  not  talk  against  a 
whirlwind,  we  said,  or  against  a  Kansas  tornado. 

She  quieted  a  little  then,  and  I  talked  for  a  few  minutes  with- 
out interruption,  explaining  the  doctrines  and  position  of  the 
Latter-day  Saints  on  the  topics  under  discussion.  The  passengers 
listened  attentively,  and  some  of  them  expressed  their  approval  of 
what  we  said.  But  Mrs.  Nation  showed  her  utter  contempt  for 
us  by  her  non- attention.  Then  she  became  sarcastic,  and  I  fear,  I 
made  a  mistake  by  retaliating  in  kind.  However,  the  "Mormons' 
tried  to  take  it  all  good-naturedly.  We  had  taken  part  in  too 
many  such  adventures  to  be  very  much  discomfited  at  this  one. 
Mrs.  Nation  had  been  in  Utah,  and  had  been  accorded  the  privi- 
lege of  speaking  in  the  Tabernacle, but  this  did  not  seem  to  count 
in  the  "Mormons'"  favor.  In  fact,  she  was  very  ignorant  of 
Utah  affairs,  for  she  spoke  of  the  women  of  Utah  as  slaves. 
"Why,"  she  exclaimed,  "you  'Mormons'  deny  the  rights  of  the 
priesthood  to  your  women!" 

We  tried  to  explain. 


1004  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

"I  should  like  to  see  a  man  try  to  bring  a  second  wife  to 
me,"  she  said  in  no  uncertain  tones.     "I'd  fix  him!" 

"I  can  well  believe  it,  Mrs.  Nation,"  said  I. 

It  was  afternoon  before  the  storm  of  discussion  quieted.  I 
changed  seats  with  Elder  Stanger,  and  after  a  time  he  and  Mrs. 
Nation  began  talking.  He  told  her  of  his  missionary  experiences 
in  Australia,  and  she  listened  quietly.  He  spoke  of  how  the  Lord 
had  blessed  him  and  answered  his  prayers,  and  how  his  testimony 
that  God  lives  had  been  made  strong  by  the  experiences  through 
which  he  had  passed.  I  had  doubted  whether  there  was  in  this 
strange,  strong  woman  a  particle  of  that  finer  feeling  which 
naturally  is  a  part  of  woman's  nature;  but  when  I  listened  to  the 
conversation  between  Elder  Stanger  and  her,  I  discovered  that  I 
was  wrong  in  my  doubts.  As  she  listened  to  my  companion,  I 
noticed  a  softer  expression  come  into  the  hard  face,  and  as  she, 
too,  talked  of  how  the  Lord  had  been  good  to  her,  there  was  a 
mildness  in  her  voice.  Then  I  thought,  "What  an  incompre 
hensibly  odd  mixture  human  nature  is!"  And  again,  "How  wonder- 
ful it  is  that  the  Lord  uses  every  odd  mixture  for  his  own  good 
purpose!  Here  was  Mrs.  Carry  Nation,  eccentric,  coarse,  fool- 
ish in  her  ways,  prejudiced,  making  herself  ridiculous  in  the  eyes 
of  mildly- mannered  people,  and  yet  a  force  which  set  the  people 
of  Kansas  and  surrounding  states  to  thinkiDg  in  earnest  about 
their  condition  in  letting  the  saloon  and  whisky  be  their  master. 
Was  she  not  doing  her  work  in  the  world?  It  may  not  be  the 
way  I  or  you  would  do  such  work,  but  who  shall  say  that  Carry 
Nation's  way  was  not  the  best  for  the  particular  time  and  place?" 

It  was  time  for  lunch  in  the  car.  We  got  out  our  meagre 
bread  and  butter,  and  Mrs.  Nation  opened  a  package  of  tempting 
sandwiches.  1  don't  know  whether  she  saw  our  scanty  store,  or 
our  greedy  eyes  told  on  us,  but  I  suppose  her  mother-heart  was 
touched,  and  so  she  offered  to  share  with  us. 

''If  thine  enemy  hunger,'"   she  quoted,   as   she  handed  a 
sandwich  over  to  us. 

"Mrs.  Nation,"  I  replied  good-naturedly,  "if  that  applies 
to  me,  I  shall  not  take  it.  I  am  not  your  enemy.  I  wouldn't 
object  to  your  smashing  every  saloon  in  the  land." 

She  laughed.    "I  was  joking,"  she  said. 


A  DAY  WITH  CARRY  NATION.  1005 

"Then  I  accept  your  kindness  with  thanks,"  I  replied. 
The  sandwiches  were  delicious. 

Who  was  Carry  Nation? 

Although  the  state  of  Kansas  has  been  a  prohibition  state  for 
many  years,  the  laws  against  the  selling  of  intoxicating  liquors 
have  not  always  been  enforced.  In  the  year  1900,  the  liquor  dealers 
had  become  so  bold  that  saloons,  or  "joints"  as  they  were  called, 
could  be  found  all  over  the  state,  and  the  officers  seemed  to  be 
helpless  to  put  them  out  of  their  unlawful  business.  Such  a  con- 
dition must  have  been  humiliating  to  the  public-minded  and  law- 
abiding  citizens  of  the  state.  Perhaps  something  radical  had  to 
transpire  to  wake  the  state  from  its  unenviable  condition,  and  on 
the  scene  came  Mrs.  Carry  Nation.  She  had  lived  in  Kansas  for 
some  years,  in  the  town  of  Medicine  Lodge.  As  a  young  woman 
she  had  married  a  man  who  became  addicted  to  drink,  and  her 
experience  with  this  drunkard  created  in  her  an  intense  aversion  to 
drink.  As  a  girl,  it  is  said,  she  was  fearless.  Later  she  married 
David  Nation,  with  whom  she  lived  about  ten  years. 

In  December,  1900,  the  people  of  Wichita,  Kansas,  were 
startled  by  a  determined  woman  armed  with  a  hatchet  entering  the 
"swellest"  saloon  in  the  town  and  breaking  its  bottles,  mirrors 
and  other  fixtures.  She  was  arrested  and  placed  in  jail,  where 
she  remained  three  weeks,  when  her  case  was  dismissed.  On  Jan- 
uary 21,  1901,  Mrs.  Nation,  with  two  other  women,  raided  and 
wrecked  two  other  saloons  in  Wichita.  She  was  arrested  again, 
but  immediately  discharged.  For  the  next  three  months  she  sur- 
prised the  "jointists"  in  various  Kansas  cities,  falling  upon  them 
unawares,  and  with  her  faithful  hatchet  and  a  few  followers, 
struck  terror  to  the  whisky  dealers.  An  account  of  her  saloon 
smashing  in  the  town  of  Enterprise  was  sent  at  the  time  to 
The  Outlook,  from  which  the  following  excerpt  of  the  affair  is 
taken: 

Mrs.  Nation  came  quietly  into  town  about  breakfast  time,  went  to 
the  house  of  the  mayor's  father,  attended  prayer-meeting  at  two  o'clock, 
and  at  three  began  hammering  on  the  windows  of  one  of  the  two  saloons. 
The  keepers  had  heard  of  her  advent,  an!  had  locktd  up  and  departed- 
to  the  other   side  of  the  street,    where  a  waiting  crowd  had  gathered. 


1006  IMPRO  VEMENT  ERA . 

Through  the  broken  glass  door  Mrs.  Nation  climbed  in,  hatchet  in  hand; 
and  the  smashing  began. 

The  big  mirror  behind  the  bar  went  to  pieces,  then  the  bottles  and 
glasses;  cases  were  emptied  on  the  floor  and  smashed  one  by  one;  the 
refrigerator  was  disfigured,  the  wall  pictures  pulled  down  and  butchered. 
Then  came  the  city  marshal,  who  took  Mrs. Nation  by  the  arm  and  walked 
her  out  the  back  way.     The  war  was  ended,  the  wreck  was  complete. 

At  the  prayer  meeting  the  proposed  smashing  was  announced,  and 
volunteers  to  join  in  the  good  work  were  called  for.  A  dozen  went  to  the 
vicinity,  but  only  one  joined  in  the  attack,  and  she  neither  a  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union  nor  church  member — simply  a  brave  woman 
who  believed  in  trying  the  new  remedy  for  closing  the  lawless  joints, 
which  law  and  persuasion  had  failed  to  close. 

The  owner  stood  by  meekly  protesting,  but  raising  no  hand.  There 
was  some  blood  on  the  bellicose  smasher's  hand,  made  by  falling  glass, 
and  her  black  alpaca  dress  was  perfumed  with  odors  of  whisky  and  beer. 

Undismayed  she  approached  the  second  saloon,  but  the  improvised 
marshal  firmly  kept  her  off.  A  war  of  words,  sprinkled  with  scriptural 
quotations  and  some  counter  remarks  about  law-breaking  and  hoodlum- 
ism,  kept  the  good-natured  crowd  amused. 

Mrs.  Nation  was  driven  to  her  friend's  home,  where  she  awaited  the 
hoped-for  arrest  in  vain.  The  sheriff  did  not  come.  After  supper  she 
started  talking  on  the  street,  but  this  soon  ended  in  a  row,  with  much 
bad  language  and  some  blood  letting.  The  raided  saloon-keeper's  wife 
slapped  the  speaker  in  the  face,  missiles  were  thrown,  and  adjournment 
taken  to  a  church  where  a  revival  meeting  was  in  progress. 

Mrs.  Nation's  plea  was  that  the  law  was  openly  violated  by 
collusion  of  the  authorities  and  the  "men,"  and  that  no  remedy 
was  open  but  counter-violence  by  the  victims— the  women.  The 
press  of  the  country,  at  the  time  Mrs.  Nation  was  busy  with  her 
hatchet,  discussed  extensively  her  and  her  ways,  some  agreeing 
with  her,  others  pointing  out  that  it  was  poor  policy  to  meet  law- 
lessness with  lawlessness.  At  the  time  the  Springfield  Republican 
had  this  to  say  of  Mrs.  Nation: 

For  seven  years  officialdom  has  been  publicly  holding  up  the  consti- 
tution of  Kansas  to  the  contumely  of  every  weak-minded,  moral  degener- 
ate or  immature  person  in  the  commonwealth.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Nation 
now  comes  upon  the  scene.  She  is  evidently  a  robust  woman  of  simple 
character  with  an  unerring  instinct  for  the  moral  law.     A  temperance 


A  DAY  WITH  CARRY  NATION.  1007 

fanatic,  no  doubt,  as  John  Brown  was  an  anti-slavery  fanatic.  This 
woman  starts  in  to  smash  saloons  because  the  authorities  permit  them 
to  flourish  in  violation  of  the  constitution  of  the  state  of  Kansas.  And 
she  seems  to  be  doing  well  within  her  prerogative.  For  the  saloons,  or 
"joints,"  have  no  legal  standing,  and  can  claim  no  protection  in  the 
courts  of  Kansas.  In  an  address  to  a  crowd  in  Topeka  the  other  day 
Mrs.  Nation  maintained  that  she  was  a  law-abiding  citizen 
whenever  she  raided  a  "joint,"  since  the  "joint"  had  no  legal 
rights.  Kansas  lawyers  there  are  who  support  her  in  this  contention, 
and  say  that  she  cannot  be  punished  for  destroying  saloon  fixtures  or 
stocks  of  liquors. 

If  the  principle  of  prohibition  is  a  good  thing  and  deserves  to  be 
maintained  in  the  fundamental  laws  of  Kansas,  it  is  difficult  to  condemn 
Mrs.  Nation  for  her  proceedings  of  violence  against  lawless  dens  of 
bibulous  resort.  She  is  certainly  backed  by  the  constitution  of  the 
state;  she  is  unquestionably  a  distinct  moral  force,  since  she  stands  for 
respect  for  law.  Her  methods  may  be  anarchical  in  their  operations,  but  a 
much  worse  kind  of  anarchy  has  been  and  is  being  fostered  by  those 
whose  sworn  duty  it  is  to  enforce  the  laws  and  preserve  the  constitution 
of  Kansas  from  public  shame. 

The  St.  Louis  Post  Dispatch  gave  this  characterization  of 
Mrs.  Nation: 

She  is  a  great  talker— can  talk  your  arm  off,  if  you  will  let  her. 
Back  in  Medicine  Lodge  she  has  been  known  always  as  a  very  determined 
woman.  Whatever  she  believes  in,  she  believes  with  her  whole  soul,  and 
nothing  except  superior  physical  force  can  stay  her.  She  used  to  drive 
about  the  country  collecting  food  and  other  supplies  for  the  poor.  She 
has  done  much  good  in  that  way,  but  when  she  sets  out  to  get  contri- 
butions, she  can  not  be  shaken  off.  Whenever  she  would  hear  of  a  needy 
family  anywhere  in  reach  by  buggy,  she  would  start  out  to  relieve  the 
unfortunates. 

Kansas  was  soon  in  a  state  of  ferment.  The  people  were 
aroused.  They  demanded  that  the  law  be  enforced,  and  the  saloons 
be  closed.  Other  smashing  parties  were  organized.  Then  the 
state  legislature  took  action,  and  the  prohibitory  law  was  better 

enforced. 

Mrs.  Nation  did  very  little  smashing  outside  of  Kansas,  bne 
became  a  lecturer  on  temperance,  traveling  all  over  the  country. 
She  printed  a  small  monthly  paper  wherein  she  preached  against 


1008  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

intoxicants,  tobacco  and  other  evils.     Here  are  some  extracts  from 
the  copy  of  The  Hatchet  obtained  from  her  on  the  train: 

Hatchet  Strokes. — A  terror  to  evil  doers,  and  the  praise  of  them 
that  do  well. 

Slowly  but  surely  the  cigarette  smoker  is  being  crowded  off  the 
earth.  The  areas  of  pollution  wherein  he  is  permitted  to  poison  good 
atmosphere  are  growing  smaller  and  beautifully  less.  He  has  been 
excluded  from  offices,  stores,  and  public  places. 

While  at  Melvern,  Arkansas,  we  stopped  with  a  woman  who  is  act- 
ive in  the  M.  E.  Conference  of  the  state.  She  sent  word  to  that  body 
not  to  send  her  any  more  ministers  who  used  tobacco,  because  of  the 
filth  they  left  behind. 

It's  the  Word  to  the  Living  that  Tells. 

(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 


It  isn't  enough  to  say  in  our  hearts  that  we  like  a  man  for  his  ways, 
It  isn't  enough  that  we  fill  our  minds  with  paeans  of  silent  praise; 
Nor   is    it   enough  that   we   honor   a  man,   as   our  confidence  upward 

mounts — 
It's  goin^  right  up  to  the  man  himself  and  telling  him  so,  that  counts. 

For  the  sun  may  shine  as  never  before,  yet  the  sky  be  black  as  night, 
As  the  storm-clouds  spreading  fold  on  fold,  shut  out  its  effulgent  light. 
But  of  what  avail  is  the  sun  beyond,  if  it  never  appears  to  view? 
The  rays  that  hallow  their  way  to  our  hearts  are  the  ones  that  penetrate 
through. 

There  are  men  in  the  world,  aye,  and  women,  too,  that  rise  to  the  noblest 
heights; 

Yet  their  paths  oft  lie  in  the  humbler  spheres,  away  from  the   glaring 
lights, 

And  they  pass  on  their  way  with  never  a  word  of  comfort,  or  hope  or 
trust, 

Till  they  fall  at  last;  then  a  recreant  world  sounds  its  eulogy  over  their 
dust. 

If  a  man  does  a  work  you  really  admire,  don't  leave  a  kind  word  unsaid, 
In  fear  that  to  do  so  might  make  him  vain,  and  cause  him  to  "lose  his 
head;" 

But  reach  out  your  hand  and  tell  him,  "Well  done,"  and  see  how  his 
gratitude  swells. 

It  isn't  the  flowers   we  strew  on  the  grave,  it's  the  word  to  the  living 
that  tells.  * 

Lon  J.  Haddock. 

Logan,  Utah. 


The  Drama. 


BY    WILLARD   DONE. 


Without  unnecessary  preliminaries  I  will  proceed  at  once  to 
the  subject  assigned  to  me.  The  main  purpose  of  the  drama  is 
entertainment.  There  may  be  other  elements  which  appear  to  be 
prime  purposes,  but  these  are  largely  incidental.  Instruction, 
culture,  training  in  dramatic  art,  etc.,  are  to  be  considered  rather 
as  means,  or  as  more  or  less  indirect  results  of  the  drama;  but, 
after  all,  its  chief  purpose  and  reason  f^r  existence  is  the  enter- 
tainment of  the  public.  We  must  keep  in  mind  that  no  play  can 
succeed  that  does  not  aim  first  of  all  to  provide  entertainment. 
The  purely  instructional  drama  is  always  a  failure.  This  has  been 
proved  time  and  again,  and  the  history  of  dramatic  development 
is  marked  by  a  large  number  of  these  plays  that  have  never 
reached  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  can  never  be  revived.  While 
instruction  may  well  enter  into  the  work  of  the  drama,  it  is  always 
incidental  to  the  main  purpose. 

The  value  of  a  thing  is  determined  by  its  purpose;  in  other 
words,  its  results.  If  the  purpose  is  worthy,  and  there  is  adapta- 
tion to  that  purpose,  beneficial  results  are  sure  to  follow.  The 
drama  has  value  so  far  as  it  meets  this  test.  Here  we  must  con- 
sider both  the  main  and  the  subsidiary  purpose  of  the  drama.  The 
p'ay  that  instructs  but  does  not  entertain  is,  as  above  stated,  a 
necessary  failure.  On  the  other  hand,  the  play  that  merely  enter- 
tains but  does  not  incidentally  instruct,  or  point  a  moral,  or 
awake  worthy  emotions,  is  unsatisfactory.     Still  further,  the  play 


*  An  address  delivered  at  the  officers'    meeting,  annual  Y.  M.  M.  I. 
A.  conference,  June  2,  1911,  at  Barratt  Hall. 


1010  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

that  awakens  unworthy  emotions,  weakens  morality  or  instills  false 
ideals,  is  objectionable  and  must  be  avoided.  Elimination  must 
enter  here.  It  is  as  important  to  the  value  of  a  play  that  cer- 
tain elements  shall  be  omitted  from  it,  as  that  certain  others 
shall  enter  into  it. 

On  the  general  principles  here  briefly  set  out,  may  be  based 
the  rules  for  the  choice  of  plays.  To  go  at  the  matter  intelli- 
gently, you  must  select  the  elements  you  desire  in  the  drama,  and 
decide  what  elements  are  undesirable  and  must  be  eliminated,  and 
thus  determine  your  choice.  No  matter  what  the  class  of  play 
you  are  considering,  these  simple  principles  of  choice  can  be 
applied.  All  these  principles  enter  into  various  plays,  no  matter 
what  the  kind.  The  application  of  these  principles  must  necessa- 
rily narrow  your  choice  of  plays,  even  from  the  theoretical  stand- 
point. But  there  are  practical  reasons  why  a  still  narrower  field 
is  necessary.  There  are  certain  plays  that  cannot  be  mastered  by 
amateurs,  and  should  never  be  attempted  by  them,  no  matter  how 
desirable  the  plays  may  be  in  themselves.  They  are  such  plays  as 
tragedies,  and  strictly  classic  comedies,  and  others  of  the  sort. 
All  tragedies  must  be  avoided.  They  are  not  for  amateurs.  For 
an  association  club  to  attempt  them  would  indeed  be  a  tragedy. 
It  is  true  that  in  the  early  days  of  the  drama  in  Utah,  when  ordi- 
nary plays  were  scarcely  to  be  procured  in  the  country  districts,  while 
a  few  copies  of  Shakespeare  were  available,  some  amateur  dra- 
matic clubs  attempted  such  tragedies  as  Hamlet,  Macbeth,  Romeo 
and  Juliet,  and  others.  Such  presentations  may  have  been  better 
than  none.  But  there  is  no  reason  in  this  day  of  numerous  plays, 
easily  obtainable  and  splendidly  adapted  to  your  purpose,  why 
amateurs  should  disturb  the  peaceful  bones  of  Shakespeare  by 
making  him  turn  over  in  his  grave. 

With  the  elimination  from  your  field  of  choice  of  the  various 
classes  of  plays  here  mentioned,  you  will  be  limited  to  such  plays 
as  ordinary  comedy-dramas,  comedies  and  farces.  I  see  no  reason 
for  a  wider  choice.  And  even  within  these  narrow  limits,  selec- 
tions should  be  carefully  made.  Two  general  principles  must  b< 
laid  down  for  determining  the  choice  of  plays.  The  positive 
principle  is  that  there  must  be  enough  of  interest  to  hold  the  undi- 
vided and  intense  attention  of  the  audience,  increasingly  to  the  end. 


THE  DRAMA.  10 n 

This  necessitates  some  element  of  excitement,  either  serious  or 
humorous.  Combined  with  this  should  be  the  instructional  ele- 
ments previously  referred  to.  The  negative  rule  is  that  there 
shall  be  no  violation  of  the  higher  rules  of  ethics.  This  eliminates 
all  coarseness,  suggestiveness,  profanity,  violence,  and  "blood 
and  thunder"  straining  for  effect.  How  to  gain  the  golden  mean, 
between  dullness  on  the  one  hand  and  too  great  sensationalism  on 
the  other,  should  be  the  careful  study  of  those  who  choose  the 
plays  for  our  association  clubs.  In  this  connection,  permit  me  to 
say  that  the  committee  on  music  and  drama  of  the  general  board 
has  already  published  a  suggestive  list  of  plays,  and  stands  ready 
at  all  times  to  co-operate  with  you  by  suggesting  suitable  plays 
and  helping  you  to  a  choice. 

Referring  again  to  the  educational  value  of  the  drama,  it  may 
be  well  to  say  that  although  this  is  incidental,  yet  it  is  of  great 
importance  and  should  not  be  neglected.  It  may  be  divided  into 
two  elements.  One  is  the  effect  of  plays  on  the  audiences  wit- 
nessing them,  the  other,  their  effect  on  the  players  themselves. 
Here  we  must  take  into  account  the  vivid  nature  of  dramatic  por- 
trayal. The  effect  of  it  is  much  more  distinct  and  lasting  than  the 
effect  of  reading  the  same  thing  in  a  book.  It  is  indeed  like  the 
presentation  of  real  incidents  in  real  life.  It  is  easily  seen,  there- 
fore, how  vitally  important  it  is  that  the  right  kind  of  plays  shall 
be  chosen,  and  that  they  shall  be  well  presented.  The  educational 
value  of  the  drama  may  be  entirely  destroyed  and  actual  evil 
caused,  beyond  our  power  to  compute,  if  objectionable  plays  are 
chosen  or  good  plays  are  ill  performed.  Nor  is  the  effect  confined 
to  the  auditors.  I  think  it  is  still  greater  in  the  case  of  the 
performers.  They  must  feel  the  play  and  its  subtle  influences, 
in  order  to  present  it  intelligently.  They  must  think  in  its  lines; 
feel  in  its  situations;  become, in  a  degree,  the  people  they  portray. 
In  the  case  of  young  people  (and  the  members  of  your  local  organ- 
izations will  necessarily  be  young)  this  influence  is  likely  to  be 
vivid  and  lasting. 

This  brings  up  another  subject  of  vital  importance  to  your 
work  in  the  drama.  Certain  ethical  considerations  are  involved  in 
the  essential  youthfulness  of  your  amateur  players.  The  callow 
and  impressionable  age  at  which  they  will  enter  upon  this  work 


1012  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

renders  certain  safeguards  absolutely  necessary.  It  goes  without 
saying  that  at  rehearsals  and  in  other  stages  of  the  preparation  of 
the  play,  some  one  of  mature  age  and  experience  shall  be  placed 
in  charge  of  the  work.  There  is  usually  a  person  in  the  ward  or 
village  who  has  some  dramatic  knowledge  and  experience,  and  who 
can  direct  the  work  of  the  club,  while  carefully  guarding  the 
members  from  certain  insidious  evils  which  may  otherwise  assail 
them.  We  should  not  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  these  players  are 
essentially  amateurs.  They  should  be  impressed  with  this  thought, 
and  should  be  guarded  against  the  possibility  of  becoming  '  'stage- 
struck."  I  don't  know  of  any  disease  peculiar  to  the  period  of 
adolescence  that  is  likely  to  be  more  stubborn  and  troublesome 
than  this.  Love-sickness  is  possibly  much  more  prevalent,  but  it 
is  more  easily  cured.  In  fact  it  usually  cures  itself  through  mar- 
riage or  otherwise.  But  the  stage-struck  youth  or  maiden  is  very 
often  a  hopeless  case,  until  bitter  experiences  have  come  to  take 
away  the  glamor  of  the  footlights  and  show  the  real  values  of  life. 
Not  that  I  would  discourage  one  from  this  career,  if  he  is  adapted 
to  it,  and  deliberately  chooses  it  with  full  realization  of  what  it 
means  in  work,  hardship,  disappointment,  and  worry,  before  the 
goal  is  reached.  I  speak  merely  of  the  ordinary  young  men  and 
women  who  will  make  up  the  membership  of  the  average  ward 
dramatic  club. 

For  the  reasons  above  stated,  and  others  that  might  be  men- 
tioned, the  ward  organization  should  not  become  ambitious  to 
extend  its  work  beyond  the  confines  of  its  own  home  town.  In  a 
large  city,  consisting  of  more  than  one  ward,  an  occasional 
visit  of  a  club  to  another  portion  of  that  city  would  not  be 
objectionable.  But  there  are  decided  objections  to  extended  travel 
on  tours  where  the  members  are  thrown  into  association  without 
proper  chaperonage,  with  the  peril  of  being  too  seriously  impressed 
with  the  work  which  must  necessarily  be  very  incidental  and  tem- 
porary. In  brief,  let  the  young  people  who  perform  for  your  enter- 
tainment be  jealously  guarded  from  every  condition  and  influence 
that  can  possibly  work  them  harm  while  engaged  in  this  very  excel- 
lent employment. 

It  is  impossible  in  the  short  time  allotted  to  me,  to  go  into 
detail  as  to  the  work  of  staging  and  preparing  plays.      There  are 


THE  DRAMA.  1013 

others  who  are  much  more  competent  for  this  part  of  the  discus- 
sion, and  doubtless  they  will  present  certain  points  for  your 
information  and  guidance,  as  occasion  arises.  It  goes  without 
saying  that  the  very  best  talent  in  the  ward  should  be  selected, 
and  placed  under  the  direction  and  training  of  a  good  dramatic 
instructor.  It  is  usually  necessary  for  temporary  and  somewhat 
unsatisfactory  makeshifts  to  be  employed  in  preparing  a  stage  and 
placing  curtain  and  scenery.  But  every  possible  effort  should  be 
made  to  induce  the  authorities  of  the  wards  to  provide  an  amuse- 
ment hall,  with  stage  and  scenery  and  other  appliances  for  the 
convenience  of  the  club  that  devotes  so  much  of  time  to  the  enter- 
tainment of  the  people.  With  the  growth  of  electrical  lighting 
systems  in  even  the  small  and  remote  villages,  it  will  be  possible  to 
produce  electrical 'effects  on  the  stage,  which  will  aid  very  mate- 
rially in  the  realism  of  the  drama, and  be  an  education  and  a  source 
of  education  to  the  young  people  in  outlying  districts  to  whom 
these  elements  of  stage  setting  are  new  and  unfamiliar. 

In  reference  to  music  in  connection  with  the  drama,  two 
important  elements  will  enter.  The  organization  of  a  ward  or 
village  orchestra,  where  such  does  not  already  exist,  will  neces- 
sarily follow  the  organization  of  a  dramatic  club.  These  orchestras, 
by  presenting  suitable  music  between  the  acts  and  by  way  of  pre- 
lude, as  well  as  incidental  music  during  the  development  of  the 
play,  will  necessarily  encourage  instrumental  development  among 
their  members  and  educate  the  people  to  a  better  appreciation  of 
this  element  of  dramatic  entertainment. 

Another  advantage  will  be  in  the  selection  and  preparation  of 
cantatas,  operettas,  musical  comedies,  etc.  The  simplest  of 
these  forms  of  entertainment  can  readily  be  prepared  by  even 
amateur  organizations,  especially  in  Latter-day  Saint  settlements, 
where  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  young  people  are  trained 
vocally  as  well  as  instrumentally.  Of  course,  it  follows  that  any 
extravaganza  or  burlesque  that  is  too  " broad"  for  use  in  these 
Mutual  Improvement  entertainments,  must  be  carefully  avoided 
by  the  directors  of  the  musical  and  dramatic  clubs.  But  after 
these  have  been  eliminated,  there  are  a  large  number  of  plays  in 
which  music  forms  an  important  element,  for  you  to  select  for 
your  entertainments.  In  this  part  of  your  work  you  are  sssured 
of  the  active  and  sympathetic  help  of  the  committee. 


Athletics.* 

BY  LYMAN  R.  MARTINEAU. 


"Life  is  a  measure  to  be  filled — not  a  cup  to  be  emptied." 

Field  sports,  athletics  and  other  outdoor  activities  have  a  direct 
relation  to  a  well  measured  life,  if  only  their  real  purpose  shall  be  kept 
in  view.  The  general  board,  ever  alert  and  watchful  for  the  young  men 
of  Zion,  took  a  step,  decidedly  forward  when  this  department  of  our  work 
was  given  unanimous  approval  and  recognized  as  an  ally  in  promoting 
moral  and  spiritual  education. 

"Manhood,  not  scholarship,  is  the  first  aim  of  education."  And  so 
at  the  outset  let  it  be  understood  that  at  the  basis  of  physical  education 
there  shall  be  the  spirit  of  the  militant,  loyal,  manhood  of  the  Church, 
whose  work  and  play  shall  alike  lead  always  to  greater  spiritual  heights. 

In  the  eyes  of  some,  sports  and  play  are  only  a  form  of  idleness.  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  the  opposite  is  true.  If  properly  organized  and  con- 
trolled, these  activities  afford  wholesome  recreation  and  promote  pluck, 
courage,  enthusiasm,  spiritual  and  moral  purpose,  temperate  habits,  and 
tend  to  keep  more  youthful  the  bodies  and  spirits  of  men  who  otherwise 
give  up  to  habits  of  old  age  all  too  early  in  life. 

Again,  objection  is  made  that  athletics  are  dangerous.  It  is  true 
that  accidents  occasionally  occur,  but  unless  very  serious  they  only 
lend  spice  and  zest  to  the  game.  For  that  matter  it  is  danger- 
ous to  go  to  bed— more  people  die  in  bed  than  on  the  battlefield. 

It  is  pleasing  to  note,  too,  that  the  trained  athletes  developed  in  the 
great  colleges  of  the  world,  submit  to  habits  of  self-denial  that  we  have 
been  taught  from  our  mother's  knee.  If  the  trained  athlete  of  Yale 
or  Harvard  would  win  a  dash,  a  game  of  ball  or  a  rowing  match,  he  may 
not  drink  beer  nor  liquor,  nor  yield  to  the  seductive  cigarette  nor  to 


*  An  address  given  at  the  officers'  meeting,  annual  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 
Conference,  Barratt  Hall,  June  2,  1911. 


ATHLETICS.  1015 

tobbaco,  tea  and  coffee  in  any  form.  From  this  standpoint  alone, 
athletics  under  such  discipline,  mean  a  triumph  which  even  our  most  elo- 
quent precepts  have  too  often  failed  to  accomplish.  If,  as  Dr.  Jordan 
says,  "you  can't  tack  a  two  thousand  dollar  education  on  a  fifty  cent 
boy,"  is  it  not  also  true  that  dissolute  habits  and  physical  excellence  can 
not  be  found  in  the  same  person. 

It  may  be  fair  to  assume  that  in  a  general  way  we  are  practically 
all  on  common  ground  thus  far,  but  we  now  reach  problems  which  widely 
differ,  because  of  the  varying  conditions  found  in  our  different  localities. 
For  instance  in  the  larger  cities  it  may  be  found  advisable  for  you  to 
unite  with  established  municipal  movements  or  high  school  activities 
where  gymnasiums,  campuses  and  equipment  have  already  been  or  are 
being  provided,  and  where  it  would  be  expensive  and  impossible  to  main- 
tain separated  and  competitive  institutions.  While  in  the  countryside 
districts  and  where  no  such  movement  has  been  possible  from  public  tax- 
ation, it  should  not  be  difficult  for  the  young  men  to  lead  in  acquiring 
a  few  acres  of  land  for  a  campus,  and  to  organize  a  loyal  support  for  its 
improvement;  and  to  secure  funds  to  add  from  time  to  time  such  equip- 
ment as  conditions  may  justify  and  afford. 

It  should  not  for  a  moment  be  imagined  that  large,  expensive  build- 
ings are  necessary  at  the  outset.  These  can  only  come  as  the  needs  of 
the  people  develop,  and  the  spirit  and  interest  of  the  people  demand.  A 
word  of  caution  to  those  unfamiliar  with  the  difficulties  of  "keeping 
up"  and  finishing  what  has  been  started  may  here  be  given.  "Do  not 
bite  off  more  than  you  can  chew,''  is  a  safe,  if  homely  bit  of  advice. 

It  may  be  that  in  some  localities  this  movement  finds  scant  support 
and  sympathy.  The  street  corner,  the  pool  hall,  or  the  country  store 
may  have  long  claimed  too  much  of  the  spare  time  of  our  country  boys, 
from  sheer  lack  of  an  organization  and  leadership  in  better  occupa- 
tions. If  this  is  true,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  M.  I.  A.  to  call  out  to  such 
and  enlist  them  in  this  better  way.  If  it  is  true  that  many  of  our  young 
and  middle-aged  men  are  mentally  lazy  and  will  not  read,  is  it  n;t  also 
true  that  in  many  cases  they  need  to  be  energized  and  aroused  into  an 
enthusiasm  for  physical  activities  which  in  all  ages  have  held  high 
places  in  the  social  and  moral  uplift  of  our  race?  Is  it  not  true,  then, 
after  all,  that  whether  we  like  athletics  or  not,  we  cannot  help  ourselves? 
For  we  have  them  ever  present  in  the  restless  energy  of  youth  and  in  the 
spirit  that  flows  like  a  stream  from  the  modern  schoolhouse  and  college. 

Let  each  ward  appoint  an  athletic  committee,  in  whose  care  should 
be  placed  the  working  out  of  the  details  and  perfecting  the  formation  of 
base-ball  and  basket-ball  teams,  and  other  features  that  especially  appeal 
to  the  talent  and  demand  of  their  ward.      The  active  support  of  every- 


1016  '  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

body  should  be  sought.  And  if  in  the  past  certain  young  men,  sometimes 
classed  as  "irreligious"  and'  'rough"  or  indifferent  to  the  work  of  the  M.  I. 
A.,  have  stood  aloof  and  unconverted  to  self-culture  and  the  work  of 
our  associations,  perhaps  the  call  of  athletics  and  sports  will  reach  them. 
If  so,  they  should  be  encouraged  to  associate  with  the  organization  and 
thus  become  permanently  identified  with  it.  In  other  words,  deny  mem- 
bership to  none  who  will  come  in  and  conform  to  the  discipline  prescribed. 
It  is  highly  essential  that  a  capable  athletic  director,  if  not  a  coach, 
should  be  secured  to  direct  and  manage  the  activities,  lest  the  rougher 
element  dominate  and  the  games  be  reduced  to  a  rowdy  unbridled  breach 
of  the  peace. 

The  good,  red  blood  of  our  junior  boys  cannot  and  should  not  be 
denied  opportunity  for  wholesome  outdoor  activities,  which  may  not  prop- 
erly come  under  the  head  of  sports  or  athletics.  Every  healthy,  evenly- 
balanced  boy  in  the  Church  has  flights  of  heroic  fancy,  and  a  passion  for 
going  out  into  the  mountains  for  a  climb,  a  camp  and  for  adventure. 
The  wide-awake  M.  I.  A.  officers  of  the  stakes  and  of  the  wards  are  the 
natural  guardians,  and  should  be  the  leaders,  in  connection  with  parents 
and  ward  authorities,  to  provide  such  outdoor  scouting  events  for  their 
junior  classes. 

Here  in  this  great  center  of  population  we  have  a  splendid  gym- 
nasium opened  and  dedicated  since  our  last  conference.  It  has,  under 
able  management,  leaped  at  once  into  public  favor,  and  is  the  pride  and 
crowning  feature  of  our  athletic  work  and  spirit. 

Finally,  while  we  stand  for  intellectual,  moral  and  spiritual  prog- 
ress, and  are  doing  great  good  in  energizing  and  enthusing  our  mem- 
bership along  ethical  and  cultural  directions,  the  field  of  physical 
well-being  and  recreation  should  be  promptly  and  efficiently  occupied  by 
our  organization  as  rapidly  and  persistently  as  have  the  other  activities 
that  have  made  the  M.  I.  A.  an  indispensable  auxiliary  in  the  Church  for 
more  than  thirty  years. 


".""'■•     */ 

■"■J:--  .  .-.  ..■ 


M.  I.  A.Tlaygrounds  near  Vernal,  Utah. 


Find  Your  Best  and  Highest  Self. 

BY   NEPHI   JENSON. 


Examination  days,  the  times  that  try  students'  souls,  are 
past.  The  pestering  interrogation  point,  which  for  the  last  few 
days  has  been  looking  defiance  at  you  from  history,  grammar  and 
arithmetic  papers,  and  disturbing  your  sleep  by  night,  has  lost  its 
terror— at  least  for  a  season— and  now  you  can  lay  you  down  to 
sleep  blissfully,  assured  that  the  goblin  question  mark  will  not  get 
you.  You  have  had  questions  to  left  of  you,  questions  to  right  of 
you,  questions  back  of  you,  and  questions  in  front  of  you,  and 
boldly  you  have  parsed,  spelled,  analyzed  and  conjugated, 
thought,  stewed  and  ciphered,  until  you  have  successfully  passed 
the  valley  of  death,  escaped  the  jaws  of  hell,  and  joyfully  come  to 
the  scene  of  this  commencement,  surrounded  by  flowers  and 
friends, 

Commencement!  What  thoughts  this  word  calls  up!  Stand- 
ing here  at  the  end  of  eight  years  of  successful  school  work, spent 
with  teachers  of  the  highest  proficiency,  and  in  a  building  as  per- 
fect as  skill  can  make,  bequeathed  to  you  and  to  those  who  shall 
come  after  you,  by  a  beneficent  state,  you  cannot  but  feel  grate- 
ful that  you  live  in  and  form  a  part  of  that  country  which  makes  it 
possible  in  her  schools  for  the  "barefoot  boy  with  cheek  of  tan" 
to  sit  beside  the  millionaire's  son. 

Every  cradl*  asks,  whence?  Every  commencement,  whither? 
You  are  commencing  today.  Where  are  you  going?  What  are 
you  going  to  do? 


*  An  address  to   graduates    of    the    Burton    School,    Salt    Lake 
county. 


1018  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

While  you  are  thinking  about  these  questions,  I  commend  to 
your  consideration  the  parable  of  the  talents.  The  man  who 
received  the  one  talent  was  a  timid,  slothful  fellow.  He  neither 
had  the  courage  nor  the  desire  to  find  out  the  worth  of  the  talent 
and  use  it,  so  he  buried  it  in  the  earth.  At  the  day  of  reckoning 
he  said  to  his  Lord,  "I  know  that  thou  art  a  hard  man,  reaping 
where  thou  hast  not  sown."  The  Lord  rebuked  the  slothful  ser- 
vant, and  commanded  that  his  one  talent  be  taken  from  him  and 
given  to  the  man  who  had  ten  talents.  The  slothful  servant's  one 
talent  was  taken  from  him  because  he  did  not  find  out  the  worth 
and  use  of  it.  In  this  parable  is  suggested  the  whole  duty  of  life, 
viz.,  to  find  your  talents  and  use  them — in  other  words,  to  find 
your  life  and  give  it  away. 

Finding  your  life  means  to  find  your  best  and  highest  self, 
and  to  live  it.  To  live  one's  best  self  means  to  see,  to  feel,  to 
know  the  best  that  the  purest  and  noblest  have  seen,  felt  and 
known.  It  means  to  see  the  sun  rise  and  the  sun  set  with  the 
artist's  eyes,  to  feel  the  thrill  of  music  with  the  soul  of  a  Mozart, 
and  to  know  the  depth  of  philosophy  as  it  is  known  to  a  Socrates. 
It  means  to  have  the  sense  of  justice  that  measures  men,  not  by 
their  names,  fame  or  dollars,  but  by  what  they  are  and  what  they 
do.  It  means  to  have  the  greatness  of  soul  to  see  nobility  beneath 
rags,  goodness  beneath  the  skin  of  a  sinner,  and  to  recognize  the 
truth  of  the  poet's  lines: 

Let  me  go  where  I  will 

I  hear  a  heaven-born  music  still. 

'Tis  not  in  the  stars  alone, 

Nor  in  the  cups  of  budding  flowers, 

Nor  in  the  Redbreast's  mellow  tone, 

Nor  in  the  bow  that  smiles  in  showers — 

But  in  the  mud  and  scum  of  things, 

There  is  always,  always  something  sings. 

When  you  have  found  your  life,  give  it  away.  Give  it  freely. 
Give  it  in  the  song  that  rests  the  heart  of  the  weary,  and  whis- 
pers peace  to  the  turbulent  soul.  Give  it  in  the  thought  set  to 
the  Muse's  music,  that  thrills,  inspires,  uplifts  and  ennobles.  Give 
it  in  unanswerable  logic  in  Truth's  defense,  and  Right's  vindica- 
tion.    Give  it  in  that  sympathy  which  grieves   at  the  sight  of 


FIND  YOUR  BEST  AND  HIGHEST  SELF. 


1019 


need,  and  sorrows  when  others  are  sad.  Give  it  in  that  love 
which  knoweth  no  self,  but  goeth  about  continually  doing  good. 
Give  it  to  God  in  that  devotion  which  recognized  his  laws  as 
supreme. 

The  greatest  life  which  has  been  lived  was  a  gift,  and  was 
spent  in  giving.  The  Man  of  Sorrows  had  no  place  to  lay  his 
head,  yet  in  tears  and  blood  he  strove,  prayed  and  sacrificed,  to 
prepare  a  place  of  eternal  glory  for  you,  for  me,  and  for  all  who 
have  lived,  and  all  who  shall  live.  Whether  at  the  altar,  in  the 
pulpit, or  in  the  presence  of  tears  that  speak  the  broken  heart,  love 
was  his  only  creed,  sacrifice  his  only  worship.  He  knew  no  self. 
For  others  he  lived,  for  others  he  died.  This  was  the  perfect  life. 
For  he  found  his  life  and  gave  it  away. 


Elder  J.  W.  Bodily  says 
that  during  the  past  winter 
months  the  Elders  laboring  in 
the  West  Washington  confer- 
ence of  the  Northwestern  States 
mission,  at  Tacoma,  were  suc- 
cessful in  obtaining  permission 
to  speak  in  the  largest  mills  in 
the  West,  and  to  hold  meetings 
among  the  men.  During  the 
six  months  preceding  May  18j 
one  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
meetings  were  thus  held,  at 
which  they  distributed  much  lit- 
erature which  they  think  will 
result  in  great  good.  They  made 
many  warm  friends,  and  feel  that 
they  have  a  great  field  for  good 

labor  during  the  summer  months.     Elders  in  front  row,  left  to  right:  0. 

P.  Dunn,  Bert  Roper.      Back  row:  0.  L.  Wheeler,  J.  W.  Bodily. 


Prom  Nauvoo  to  Salt  Lake  in  the  Van  of 
the  Pioneers. 


The  Original  Diary  of  Erastus  Snow. 


EDITED  BY  HIS  SON,  MORONI  SNOW. 

VII. 

Our  last  chapter  closed  with  the  pioneers  encamped  on  a 
small  creek  flowing  into  the  Platte,  on  the  north  side.  Erastus 
Snow  continues  his  journal  as  follows: 

Wednesday,  April  5,  1847.  We  traveled  today  about  fifteen 
miles,  chiefly  over  soft  prairie  where  it  has  been  hard  wheeling, 
and  our  teams  fared  hard  for  grazing.  Our  hunters  have  killed  one 
buffalo  cow  and  a  number  of  calves  today. 

April  6.  A  light  shower  nearly  extinguished  the  fires  last 
night,  so  that  today  we  passed  over  to  the  unburned  grass  again, 
but  where  we  have  traveled  today  we  are  but  little  better  off  for 
feed,  for  it  is  nearly  all  eaten  up  by  the  buffaloes  which  have  been 
driven  here  either  by  fires,  or  by  something  else,  northward.  I  pre- 
sume in  traveling  sixteen  miles  t^day  we  have  passed  from  five  to 
ten  thousand  buffaloes.  Some  of  our  teams  are  beginning  to  fail 
for  want  of  feed. 

7th.  One  circumstance  I  must  not  fail  to  mention,  that  is 
the  fact  that  Brigham  Young,  in  riding  fast  with  others  to  head 
our  drove  of  cows  to  prevent  their  mixing  with  a  herd  of 
buffaloes  that  were  making  toward  them,  lost  a  valuable  spy  glass 
out  of  .his  pocket  last  evening.  *  *  *  We  had  an  axle  tree  to 
put  into  a  wagon  this  morning,  and  we  wished  to  give  our  teams 
more  time  to  eat,  as  the  feed  was  very  poor  and  the  grain  we  had 


FROM  NAUVOO  TO^SALT  LAKE.  1021 

brought  with  us  was  nearly^exhausted.  We  therefore  did  not  start 
until  about  noon,  and  only  traveled  six  miles  and  camped  near  an 
island  where  we  found  better  feeding. 

Saturday,  8th.  We  traveled  about  eleven  miles  over  an  old 
sheep  pasture,  perfectly  used  up.  At  least  it  had  such  an  appear- 
ance, from  the  fact  that  the  ground  was  nearly  covered  with  the 
buffalo  dung,  and  the  whole  country  seemed  alive  with  these  wild 
cattle.  We  were  obliged  to  camp  upon  a  perfectly  barren  spot  on 
the  river  bank.  Next  morning  we  moved  up  the  river  four  miles, 
opposite  a  small  island  of  cottonwoods,  on  which  we  fed  our 
teams  and  on  which  we  tarried  over  Sunday,  9th,  and  had  a  meet- 
ing in  the  afternoon.  Here  also  a  small  box  was  made  and  nailed 
to  a  tall  post  in  which  was  placed  a  written  history  of  our  organ- 
ization and  journeying  up  to  this  time,  for  the  benefit  of  our  breth- 
ren who  should  follow  us. 

10th.  We  crossed  a  small,  clear  stream  this  morning  and 
came  into  a  little  better  feed,  and  the  feed  has  been  improving  a 
little  through  the  day,  and  the  buffaloes  are  not  so  plentiful.  We 
are  not  a  little  glad  on  account  of  it;  for  we  would  rather  have  less 
game  and  more  feed,  though  we  have  not  been  allowed  to  kill  game 
any  faster  than  we  wanted  it  to  eat.  Today  we  had  a  feast  upon 
a  fat  cow  and  a  fine  deer.  We  are  camped  tonight  opposite  a  fine 
island  of  cottonwoods  which  affords  feed  and  fuel.  We  have 
traveled  about  ten  miles  today. 

Tuesday,  11th.  Today  we  have  traveled  about  eight  miles  and 
camped  a  little  above  a  char  and  beautiful  prairie  creek.  The 
feed  is  so  short  and  teams  so  weak  we  are  unable  to  travel  but  a 
short  portion  of  the  day.  We  have  seen  but  few  buffalo  today, 
but  it  is  evident  that  they  have  left  this  range  very  recently. 

12th.  We  have  traveled  about  twelve  miles  today.  We  have 
bad  a  warm  south  wind  and  good  roads,  and  crossed  this  afternoon 
a  small,  clear  stream,  and  we  are  now  encamped  upon  another 
good-sized  creek  and  in- sight  of  the  bluff  that  separates  the  north 
and  south  forks  of  the  Platte,  the  most  southern  point  of  which 
is  still  a  few  miles  above  us.  The  south  fork  appears  to  come 
in  from  the  southwest  nearly  opposite  our  camp,  and  then  runs 
along  near  its  own  bluff  about  twenty  miles  to  its  confluence 
with  the  north  fork,  a  peninsula  of  from  one  to  nine  miles  wide 


1022  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

separating  them.  Here  we  find  fresh  signs  of  Indians,  and  one  of 
their  late  encampments.  We  passed  today  the  corpses  of  about 
one  hundred  buffaloes,  lately  slaughtered  by  them.  They  have  taken 
only  the  hides,  tongues,  marrow-bones,  and  here  and  there  a 
choice  piece  of  meat,  leaving  the  buffalo  for  the  wolves,  which  are 
by  no  means  scarce  or  backward  in  waiting  upon  themselves. 
Most  of  the  buffaloes  that  \ve  have  seen  on  this  route  seem  to  be 
poor,  and  we  find  many  carcasses  of  those  that  have  died  this 
spring;  and  in  several  instances  we  have  found  them  so  feeble 
that  our  boys,  who  love  the  sport,  have  caught  them  by  the  tail 
and  horns  and  handled  them  as  they  would  any  domestic  animal. 

13th.  We  have  traveled  today  about  ten  and  three-fourths 
miles,  have  crossed  the  largest  tributary  of  the  Platte  we  have 
seen  since  we  left  the  Loup  Fork,  and  are  now  encamped  at  its 
mouth.  It  has  a  quicksand  bottom  fully  as  bad  as  the  Loup  Fork, 
and  is  about  ten  rods  wide.  The  bluffs  between  the  rivers  are 
about  opposite.  The  president  named  it  Junction  Bluff  river.  We 
have  had  a  sudden  change  in  the  weather,  and  we  are  now  scarcely 
comfortable  around  the  fires  with  top  coats.  The  feed  is  the  best 
here  that  we  have  found  since  we  came  into  the  buffalo  range.  A 
mile  and  a  half  west  of  us  the  bluffs  extend  abruptly  into  the 
Platte.  They  are  sand  ridges  and  broken  knobs.  Our  horsemen 
are  searching  for  a  road  through. 

14th.  I  was  on  guard  last  night,  and  it  was  far  from  being 
a  warm  berth,  but  the  weather  began  to  moderate  about  ten 
o'clock,  and  today  it  has  been  warm  enough  to  rain.  We  have 
had  several  slight  showers,  during  the  day,  which  seemed  truly 
reviving  to  this  thirsty  land.  We  found  a  very  good  but  circuit- 
ous road  through  the  sand  hills  and  made  our  way  to  the  bottom 
again.  Have  traveled  eight  miles,  and  have  now  before  us 
another  range  of  sand  hills  to  try  in  the  morning.  They  appear 
worse  than  those  we  have  passed  today.  We  found  good  feed 
here  and  thought  it  best  to  let  our  teams  enjoy  the  benefit  of  it 
before  venturing  among  the  sand  hills,  else  we  should  have  trav- 
eled farther. 

15th.  We  found  it  about  two  and  a  half  miles  through  the 
sand  hills.  The  sand  being  deep,  made  it  very  heavy  wheeling. 
We  have  traveled  seven  miles  and  camped  for  Sunday.     Have 


FROM  NAUVOO  TO  SALT  LAKE.  1023 

another  range  of  sand  hills  about  three  miles  before  us.  The 
buffaloes  have  eaten  the  feed  between  us  and  the  hills,which  is  the 
cause  of  our  stopping  in  the  middle  of  the  bottom.  We  o.amp 
where  we  can  feed,  irrespective  of  water  or  fuel,  for  buffalo  chips 
have  been  our  only  fuel  this  week,  except  a  little  driftwood,  and 
we  can  find  water  almost  anywhere  on  the  Platte  bottom  by  dig- 
ging from  four  to  six  feet,  and  we  most  always  do  it  in  prefer- 
ence to  going  half  a  mile  to  the  river.  It  has  been  showery  today 
and  nearly  cold  enough  to  snow. 

Sunday  16th.  The  sky  was  overcast  with  clouds  and  the  wind 
blew  cold  from  the  north, but  in  the  middle  of  the  day  it  cleared  up 
warm  and  pleasant.  We  had  a  meeting  in  the  afternoon.  All 
appeared  in  fine  spirits.  Two  buffaloes  and  one  antelope  killed 
near  camp. 

17th.  Started  half-past  eight  o'clock  this  morning  and  found  it 
about  two  and  a  half  miies  through  the  sand  hills  before  we 
struck  the  bottom  again,  about  midway  of  which  we  crossed  a 
small  stream  running  into  the  river.  During  the  afternoon  we 
passed  several  spring  fountains  coming  out  of  the  foot  of  the  bluffs 
and  spreading  out  over  the  bottom  which  was  rather  low  and  made  it 
soft  wheeling  among  the  sloughs, as  the  marshy  places  on  the  prairie 
are  called;  but  bearing  nearer  to  the  river  bank,  we  soon  struck 
hard  ground  again  and  camped  for  the  night  after  having  traveled 
twelve  and  three-fourths  miles.  The  hunters  killed  some  buffaloes 
and  some  small  game,  which  detained  the  camp  some  to  secure 
the  meat. 

18th.     This   morning    President     Young    gave    some   good 

instructions  to  the  camp,  and  sharp  admonitions  to  some  for  being 

wasteful  of  flesh;  to  the  hunters  for  killing  more  than  they  really 

needed;    to  the  horsemen  in  taking  so  little  interest  in  looking 

out  our  roads;  and  to  the  officers  for  neglecting  to   enforce  the 

rules   of  the  camp  upon  their  men.     We  have   had  good   roads 

and  fine  weather,  and  have  traveled  fifteen  and  three-fourths  miles 

today,  and  camped  at  the  mouth  of  a  small  creek.   Today  we  begin 

to  find  for  the  first  time  ledges  of  rock  in  the  bluff  on  both  sides 

of  the  river. 

(to  be  continued.) 


Little  Problems  of  Married  Life.  * 

BY   WILLIAM   GEORGE   JORDAN. 


III.— Plea  for  More  Courtship  after  Marriage. 

There  are  some  men  who  seem  to  consider  that  their  marriage 
certificate  is  a  sort  of  fully  paid-up  policy  on  marital  happiness. 
They  act  as  if  courtship  days  were  those  of  paying  premiums  of 
compliment,  cheerfulness,  courtesy,  consideration,  and  chivalry  and 
that  marriage  makes  unnecessary  all  further  assessments  of  lover- 
like attention.  They  may  sometime  awaken  t^  the  realization 
that  the  only  way  to  get  an  absolutely  guaranteed  insurance  on 
matrimony  is  to  keep  on  paying  the  premiums.  Countless  first- 
class  marriage  policies  have  lapsed  just  because  of  these  impru- 
dently suspended  payments. 

These  very  men,  at  their  clubs,  often  go  perilously  close  to 
the  dead-line  of  boredom  in  telling  you  of  the  marvelous  qualities 
of  their  wives.  They  run  the  chromatic  scale  of  enthusiasm,  while 
you  wonder  in  a  dreamy  way  whether  the  angels  in  heaven  were 
not  modeled  after  these  women.  At  home  these  husbands  may 
keep  their  adoration  and  appreciation  wrapped  around  with  seven 
folds  of  silence,  safeguarding  their  feeling  as  zealously  as  if  it 
were  a  Masonic  secret.  Were  but  a  small  instalment  of  this  told 
at  home  it  might  prove  a  joy,  a  sweet  source  of  new  confidence, 
courage  and  inspiration  to  the  wife  who  is  heart  hungry  for  just 
such  words 

There  is  a  tendency  to  assume  that  this  love  is  known  and 
recognized,  so  why  speak  of  it?  "She  knows  how  much  I  think  of 
her" — this  is  a  dangerous  taking  for  granted  of  what  should  be 
made  real,   pulsing  and  vital  in  thought,  word  and  deed.     There 


Copyright,  1910,  by  Fleming  H.  Hevell  Company. 


LITTLE  PROBLEMS  OF  MARRIED  LIFE.  1025 

is  little  danger  of  overtelling  this  story ;  it  is  often  the  w'ne  of  life 
and  inspiration  to  one  hungering  and  thirsting  for  the  little  tend- 
ernesses of  affection.  Ofttimes  some  little  touch  of  loving  sweet- 
ness throws  a  golden  streak  of  happiness  through  a  wife's  whole 
day,  and  an  involuntary  half-smile  and  a  love-light  in  the  eye  born 
of  the  remembrance,  hours  later,  tell  of  the  vitalizing  power  of  a 
seeming  trifle,  forgotten  or  perhaps  unnoted  by  him  who  thus 
gladdened  a  life  anew. 

There  are  more  people  on  this  great,  big,  rolling  earth  hun- 
gering for  sweetness,  tenderness  and  words  of  gentle  appreciation, 
genial  confidence  and  generous  affection  than  are  starving  for 
bread.  Such  words  that  were  the  current  coin  of  conversation 
before  marriage  often  seem  withdrawn  from  circulation  after- 
wards. With  husband  and  wife  these  delicate  messengers  of  affec- 
tion cost  so  little — sometimes  only  a  thought,  but  it  is  the  thought 
that  is  all.  They  are  only  trifles — too  great  for  mere  money  to 
buy,  but  trifles  that  focus  the  joy  of  life  in  a  moment. 

There  are  men  who  would  no  more  think  voluntarily  of  carry- 
ing home  to  their  wives  a  bunch  of  roses  just  as  a  bit  of  sentiment 
than  they  would  think  of  taking  home  a  bridge  or  a  cathedral  or 
two  or  three  miles  of  seacoast.  It  is  not  fair  to  have  all  the 
roses  before  marriage,  and  only  their  memory  and  thorns  after- 
wards. A  splendid  present  to  smooth  over  a  misunderstanding  or 
to  wipe  out  an  unpleasant  memory  is  altogether  of  another  class. 
That  is  not  love,  it  is  bribery;  it  is  not  tenderness,  it  is  policy;  it 
is  like  the  sacrifices  the  heathens  offer  their  gods  to  appease  their 
wrath. 

One  of  the  most  common  causes  of  the  decline  of  courtship 
after  marriage  where  it  does  occur,  and  there  are  countless 
instances  to  prove  that  it  does  not  always  decline,  is  the  disillu- 
sion that  often  comes  after  marriage.  When  the  rosy  tints  of  the 
courtship  days  grow  dimmer  there  is  a  tendency  for  the  real 
poetry  to  turn  into  commonplace  verse  or  even  into  the  baldest 
prose.  This  cause,  if  one  may  be  pardoned  interpreting  Cupid  in 
terms  of  commercialism,  may  be  called  "buying  from  sample." 

In  the  days  before  marriage,  they  saw  each  other  at  their 
best;  they  were  on  dress  parade  and  unselfishly  thinking  too  much 
of  each  other  to  think  much  of  self.     Under  the  inspiring  glow 


1026  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

of  mutual  regard  every  latent  virtue  blosssomed  into  full  flower, 
every  failing  assumed  a  roseate  hue  under  some  loving  interpreta- 
tion, little  sacrifices  for  each  other  were  a  joy  and  a  privilege. 
Then  a  smile  would  exile  a  doubt,  a  caress  smother  an  argument, 
a  tender  word  throw  a  world  of  worry  into  eclipse,  and  a  mood  of 
disagreement  be  but  the  preface  to  sweet  reconciliation  that  made 
them  nearer  and  dearer. 

Before  marriage  little  inharmonies  became  lost  in  the  general 
effect  as  moonlight  sqftens  and  obscures  discords  that  the  broad 
glare  of  sunlight  reveals.  Marriage  brings  sunlight  to  bear  on 
all  things  and  often  the  goods  do  not  seem  up  to  sample.  Then 
must  come  a  time  of  concession,  adjustment  and  acceptance  of 
conditions  with  a  smiling  determination  to  make  the  best  of  each 
other.  Then  each  must  realize  that  if  they  would  be  real  married 
sweethearts  they  must  keep  the  courtship  atmosphere  vital  and 
pervading — by  the  courtship  methods.  The  love  that  is  worth 
working  for  and  waiting  for  is  worth  preserving. 

Sentiment  that  is  kept  in  cold  storage  does  not  amount  to 
much;  it  lives  and  grows  as  it  is  exercised.  A  bunch  of  roses  to 
gladden  the  eye  on  the  table  is  worth  more  than  barrels  of  dead 
leaves  pickled  in  rose  jars.  Love  cannot  live  long  on  its  past;  it  is 
its  present  that  counts  as  a  real  force,  and  like  all  other  habits  it 
intensifies  by  exercise. 

Courtship  after  marriage  is  a  kind  of  matrimonial  thermostat; 
it  automatically  keeps  the  home  atmosphere  at  the  proper  tem- 
perature. When  the  heat  of  a  fervid  discussion  threatens  to 
scorch  the  respect  of  the  two  for  each  other,  and  the  hot  words  of 
blame  and  protest  make  even  asbestos  in  the  room  conscious  of 
warmth,  a  smile,  a  sweet  silence  or  a  term  of  tender  endearment 
may  suddenly  banish  the  heat  like  the  radiated  influence  of  a 
fountain  or  a  cool,  fragrant  breeze  from  a  garden  at  twilight. 
When  the  cold,  cutting  air  of  a  sneer  or  a  biting  sarcasm  makes 
it  seem  that  some  one  must  have  left  an  iceberg  on  the  doorstep, 
and  the  silence  at  the  dinner  table  grows  as  tense  and  palling  as 
the  colaborated  hush  of  a  vast  audience  watching  the  climax 
moment  of  a  thrilling  mid-air  acrobatic  feat,  the  courtship  wisdom 
comes  to  the  rescue  with  that  fine  instinctive  tact  of  the  heart. 
It  is  not  always  easy  but  it  is  wise. 


LITTLE  PROBLEMS  OF  MARRIED  LIFE.  1027 

The  two  who  have  united  in  marriage  want  happiness;  they 
crave  it,  and  when  it  slips  away  and  if  they  lose  their  bearings 
and  drift,  it  is  usually  because  they  are  not  conscious  of  it  in  the 
beginning  and  neither  one  may  be  quite  able  to  find  the  way  back — 
alone.  It  is  so  easy  to  let  familiarity  kill  the  courtship  spirit, 
there  is  danger  of  taking  things  as  a  matter  of  course  and  of  fall- 
ing into  the  "married  manner"  of  assuming  that  little  courtesies 
and  considerations  are  no  longer  necessary  and  a  difference  in  the 
way  of  speaking  to  each  other  creeps  into  the  conversation. 

When  a  man  trips  over  his  wife's  skirts  and  explodes  a  con- 
demnation as  to  her  folly  in  wearing  them  long,  blaming  her,  in 
unsterilized  language,  for  his  carelessness,  he  forgets  the  Chester- 
fieldian  grace  with  which  he  would  have  atoned  for  the  misdeeds  of 
his  feet  with  the  courtesy  of  his  speech  in  the  old  days.  It  may 
not  be  that  he  loves  her  less;  he  may  even  love  her  more  in  a 
deeper,  truer  and  stronger  way,  but  he  does  not  show  it  in  the 
right  way,  he  may  have  great  wealth  of  affection,  but  he  does  not 
keep  it  in  circulation.  His  sense  of  proprietorship,  by  some  zigzag 
process  of  thinking,  makes  him  think  he  need  not  bother  to  be 
polite. 

There  is  danger  in  the  common  habit  of  making  light  of  love 
in  the  home,  of  treating  it  with  a  flippant,  cheap  cynicism.  It  is 
hardly  worth  the  smiles  it  may  elicit.  It  is  an  insidious  habit 
that  grows  from  innocent,  breezy  banter  to  cutting  sentences  that 
leave  scars  in  memory.  It  often  begins  in  the  springtime  of  mar- 
ried life  in  foolish  protest  against  being  thought  sentimental,  as  a 
sort  of  self-protection,  and  in  fear  of  manifesting  affection  in  pub- 
lic the  two  may  swing  to  the  other  extreme. 

The  husband  may  tell  to  his  friends  assembled  a;  his  table,  in 
a  whimsical  way,  that  now  he  is  '  'done  for,  that  he  can  never  dare 
to  go  out  at  night,  that  no  one  knows  what  he  suffers,"  etc.  The 
wife  may  laughingly  counsel  her  friend,  in  his  presence,  "never  to 
get  married,  you  do  not  realize  what  it  means  to  devote  your 
whole  life  to  humoring  a  man  and  giving  up  your  freedom 
forever." 

Neither  means  the  words;  each  knows  it  is  but  bubbling  non- 
sense, but  sometimes  one  phrase  sticks  in  memory  when  the  time 
and  atmosphere  of  the  telling  are  forgotten,  and  it  stings  and  does 


1028  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

not  down  with  argument,  and  it  starts  a  wondering,  insistent, 
rankling  doubt  as  to  whether  he  really  meant  it  after  all,  and 
there  may  be  a  sigh  in  her  heart  and  a  sob  in  her  throat  as  the 
fear  comes  that  there  may  have  been  something  in  it  after  all ; 
it  may  have  been  a  truth  he  sought  to  hide  under  the  mask  of  a 
jest.  One  of  the  two  may  not  have  the  keen  sense  of  humor  to  under- 
stand it  aright  and  the  smile  may  be  only  a  slight  one  from  the 
lips,  not  the  glad,  assured  smile  of  a  heart  at  ease  and  so  buoy- 
antly happy  that  the  very  eyes  seem  illumined.  There  are  so  many 
subjects  that  are  impersonal,  far  removed  from  their  life  together, 
that  this  one  theme  might  be  hallowed  in  a  way  as  being  too  dear 
and  near  and  sacred  to  be  the  plaything  of  the  public  humor  of 
either. 

When  the  husband  has  the  feeling,  percolating  through  his 
consciousness,  perhaps  never  quite  formulated  into  words,  that  our 
"courtship  and  honeymoon  were  beautiful,  of  course,  while  they 
lasted,  but  now  we  must  realize  that  life  is  serious,"  he  may 
think  that  he  is  growing  sensible.  He  is  really  a  bit  mistaken;  he 
is  merely  relapsing  into  his  selfishness.  What  he  deems  a  reason 
is  only  an  excuse  for  dodging  the  effort  to  master  his  moods  and 
be  agreeable  when  he  does  not  feel  like  it.  His  attitude  some- 
how suggests  throwing  away  flowers  of  sentiment  from  a  vase 
because  they  have  wilted  a  little,  and  with  their  novelty  now  grown 
familiar  have  lost  some  of  their  initial  charm.  It  would  be  wiser 
to  make  the  vase  ever-blooming  and  redolent  of  sweetness  by 
filling  it  with  fresh  flowers  of  finer  appreciation  each  new  day.  It 
takes  time  and  thought  and  patience,  it  is  true,  but  it  pays  in  the 
dividends  of  sweetness  and  smiling  love  they  exhale.  It  is  only 
holding  the  invading  monotony  of  matrimony  at  bay — with  the  old 
courtship  methods. 

Marriage  is  serious;  so  are  all  the  other  great  things  in  life 
that  are  worth  while,  but  it  is  never  so  dangerously  serious  as 
when  the  courtship  spirit  is  packed  away  in  camphor  with  the 
wedding  clothes  as  being  too  fine  for  daily  use.  It  is  because  mar- 
riage is  serious  that  it  needs  sustaining,  stimulating,  sincere  love 
that  is  active  as  a  living  force,  not  a  mere  golden  memory.  Mar- 
riage is  not  a  summer  picnic;  it  does  not  banish  trial,  sorrow,  pain, 
and  suffering  from  life,  even  were  it  an  ideal  union  under  ideal 


LITTLE  PROBLEMS  OF  MARRIED  LIFE.  1029 

conditions,  but  it  enables  two  to  face  life's  problems  hand  in  hand, 
finding  courage,  strength  and  refuge  in  each  other,  and  even 
peace  in  sorrow,  instead  of  walking  down  the  valley  of  the  years- 
alone. 

There  is  a  romantic  love  that  is  long  on  extravagant  phrases 
and  short  on  lasting  qualities,  It  has  more  of  the  senses  than  of  the 
soul,  more  sentimentality  than  sentiment,  more  gilt  than  gold.  It 
is  built  for  show,  not  for  wear;  it  has  every  element  of  real 
love  except — the  essential.  In  the  courtship  days  it  seems  to  be 
in  the  gold  medal  class;  shortly  after  marriage  it  would  not  get 
honorable  mention.  It  is  good  on  short  spurts,  but  breaks  down 
on  endurance  tests.     It  is  just  an  emotional  gold-brick. 

Real  love  wears,  endures  and,  like  an  oak,  grows  stronger 
with  the  years,  more  firmly  rooted  by  every  struggle  with  oppos- 
ing conditions,  every  weathered  storm.  One  of  our  great  com- 
posers made  the  hand-organ  the  test  of  the  popularity  of  each  of 
his  new  musical  creations.  "Will  it  grind?"  was  his  earnest  and 
wistful  question.  The  lov?  worth  while  is  the  love  that  will  grind, 
that  has  in  it  such  real  music  that  all  the  monotony  and  grind  of 
married  life  cannot  kill  its  sweetness,  its  inspiration,  its  melody  and 
harmony. 

There  are  husbands  who  think  they  deserve  a  blue  ribbon  in 
the  matrimonial  race  because  they  run  quietly  in  double  harness, 
make  no  special  disturbance  round  the  house,  are  loyal,  and,  as  the 
phrase  goes,  are  "good  providers."  They  say:  "I  give  her  a  good 
home,  she  has  servants,  plenty  of  money  and  dress,  all  the  neces- 
sities and  many  of  the  luxuries;  what  more  does  she  want?"  In 
sad  hours  of  loneliness  and  heart-hunger,  realizing  fully  all  that 
she  has,  she  knows  that  the  "more"  she  craves  is  the  man  himself, 
his  real  companionship,  his  compliments,  his  confidence,  his  tender- 
ness, his  loving. 

She  wants  to  hear  sometimes  the  very  words,  "I  love  you  so, 
dear,"  and  "I  need  you  so,"  or  any  of  love's  synonyms  that  speak 
directly  not  merely  inferentially  through  acts.  She  wants  the 
phrases  that  sing  themselves  in  memory  while  the  heart  listens  and 
is  glad.  She  wants  to  be  told  again  that  she  "has  the  most  beau- 
tiful hands  in  all  the  world,"  she  wants  to  have  him  notice  the 
flower  in  her  hair,  to  praise  the  fit  of  her  new  gown,  to  have  her 


1030  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

opinion  occasionally  count  as  an  aiset  in  his  thinking,  not  as  a 
liability  to  be  wiped  out.  She  wants  him  to  be  the  one  to  tell  her  that 
she  is  beautiful,  for  it  means  more  to  her  than  what  all  the  others 
say — she  wants  the  old  courting  atmosphere  back  again.  She 
wants,  in  a  word,  recognition  of  her  as  a  woman,  as  the  woman, 
not  merely  the  duty  and  respect  paid  as  a  wife. 

When  we  as  a  nation  do  not  grow  or  manufacture  within  our 
own  borders  all  that  the  needs  of  our  people  demand,  we  import 
them.  Our  hungers  require  certain  things,  and  if  we  do  not  find 
them  in  this  country  we  get  them  from  abroad,  from  whatever 
country  can  supply.  When  love,  sympathy,  comradeship,  trust, 
courtesy,  recognition,  and  happiness  are  not  supplied  in  the  home 
market,  not  grown  by  husband  and  wife  for  each  other,  there  is  a 
dangerous  tendency  to  import  them,  to  welcome  them,  perhaps 
innocently,  from  any  source  from  which  they  may  come.  Guard- 
ing the  home  market  keeps  out  foreign  competition. 

Continued  courtship  after  marriage  preserves  the  lover  in  the 
husband  and  the  sweetheart  in  the  wife.  But  courtship  is  not 
solitaire;  like  a  quarrel  it  requires  two  to  make  it  a  real  success. 
It  is  not  the  wife  alone  who  needs  the  gracious  sweetness  of  frank 
comradeship,  for  husbands  who  are  built  on  the  right  lines  have 
equal  longing  for  loving  kindness  and  kindly  loving.  They  may 
rebel  at  having  little  acts  of  special  thoughtfulness  taken  for 
granted  as  a  matter  of  course  and  accepted  with  the  joyless  man- 
ner of  a  tax  collector  gathering  in  revenue  or  a  cool  croupier  rak- 
ing in  stakes.  There  are  some  women  who  show  more  pleasure 
in  receiving  a  few  violets  than  others  would  betray  if  .you  gave 
them  the  whole  German  Empire.  Perfunctory  acceptance  puts  a 
premium  on  perfunctory  giving,  and  it  is  a  bit  discouraging  to  the 
husband. 

The  husband  may  remember  when  fair  hands  pinned  a  pink  in 
the  lapel  of  his  coat, when  there  was  not  a  note  of  sweet  deference  in 
listening  to  any  expression  of  his  opinions,  when  the  superior  busi- 
ness intelligence  of  the  man  next  door  was  not  boomed  on  a  brisk 
bull  market  of  contrast,  when  eyes  brightened  with  joy  when  he 
told  the  story  of  some  ambition  that  was  dear  to  his  heart;  when 
a  sofa  cushion  was  tucked  in,  by  hands  that  seemed  to  smile,  just 
at  the  psychic  angle  of  maximum  comfort  in  an  armchair  when  he 


LITTLE  PROBLEMS  OF  MARRIED  LIFE.  1031 

felt  a  bit  tired  and  enjoyed  the  incense  of  being  humored  like  an 
invalid  by  brevet. 

Little  attentions,  the  perfume  of  consecrated  thoughtfulness 
are  dear  to  husband  as  well  as  to  wife.  There  is  ever  a  subtle 
compliment  in  having  one's  tastes  and  preferences  remembered, 
and  appealed  to,  in  making  the  key-note  of  the  selection  of  some 
little  gift  the  memory  of  an  expression  of  the  desire  of  either, 
perhaps  months  before.  It  carries  with  it  a  suggestion  of  a  halo 
of  importance  dignifying  an  almost  forgotten  wish.  A  trifle,  you 
say,  yes;  but  trifles  are  the  only  things  in  life  that  really  count; 
everything  big  is  but  mass  and  that  is  only  the  aggregate  of  trifles. 
There  are  married  people  who  kept  sacred  for  a  few  years  cer- 
tain anniversary  and  memorial  days  in  the  calendar  of  their  affec- 
tions, red-letter  days  that  in  the  observance  and  in  the  freshening 
glow  of  memory  hr.ve  a  mellowing  sweetness  vivifying  of  senti- 
ment. Then  as  the  years  go  back,  these  anniversaries  fade  in 
their  identity  and  blend  confusedly  together  in  the  perspective  like 
a  long  row  of  lamp-posts  up  a  boulevard.  When  a  man  has  to 
figure  out  on  a  pad  the  date  of  his  marriage,  or  his  wife  has  to 
have  the  date  of  his  birthday  recalled  to  her,  then  the  spirit  of  the 
old  courtship  days  should  be  taken  from  the  lavender  of  memory, 
and  aired  and  dusted. 

This  spirit  helps  the  wife  to  realize  that  the  dainty  house 
dresses  she  used  to  wear  still  may  have  the  old  power  to  charm, 
that  the  piano  need  not  remain  closed  if  sentiment  can  keep  for  it 
the  old  delight,  that  the  songs  that  once  soothed  the  mind  and 
heart  of  one  now  nearer  than  ever  still  might  exercise  their  old 
spell. 

The  past  does  not  die,  we  kill  it  and  bury  it;  we  can  make  it 
live  forever  in  the  present,  but  which  ever  we  do,  the  option  is 
ours  and  the  responsibility  is  ours.  The  love,  confidence,  sympa- 
thy, tenderness  and  consideration  that  the  heart  feels,  let  the  lips 
and  life  express.  Courtship  is  a  vessel  of  promise  that  is  often 
wrecked  on  the  shoals  of  matrimony.  Courtship  means  two  mates 
without  a  captain;  marriage  sometimes  becomes  two  captains 
without  a  mate. 

("Living  in  Boarding  Houses  and  Hotels,"  is  the  title  of  the  next 
article  in  this  series.) 


Editor's  Table. 


On  the  Form  of  Prayer. 

From  time  to  time  questions  come  to  the  editors  asking  for 
instructions  in  detail  on  what  words  should  be  used  in  the  perform- 
ance of  Church  ordinances.  There  seems  to  be  a  tendency  among 
some  of  the  elders  to  reduce  every  blessing  and  ordinance  to  a  set 
form.  Doubtless  their  intention  is  to  perform  the  ordinance  cor- 
rectly and  effectively,  but  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  bless 
ings  of  the  Sacrament  and  the  formula  for  Baptism  are  about  the 
only  forms  which  the  Lord  has  seen  fit  to  reveal.  Perhaps  because 
he  desires  to  prevent  his  servants  from  being  too  mechanical  in 
officiating  in  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel.  He  intends  without 
doubt  that  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  should  be  left  to  give  appropri- 
ate utterance  in  harmony  with  the  time,  the  place,  the  occasion, 
and  the  condition. 

Lately  some  questions  on  technical  expression  in  consecrating 
and  anointing  with  oil  have  come  to  hand.  In  the  healing  of  the 
sick,  it  is  well  to  remember  that  in  the  word  of  the  Lord  (Doctrine 
and  Covenants — 24:  13,  14,)  to  the  Saints,  the  elders  are  enjoined 
not  to  require  miracles  without  being  directly  commanded  of  the 
Lord.  An  exception  is  made  in  the  matter  of  healing  the  sick, 
casting  out  devils,  and  against  poisonous  serpents;  and  even  then, 
the  elders  are  commanded  not  to  cast  out  devils,  or  heal  the  sick, 
except  it  be  required  of  them  by  those  who  desire  it  done.  It  is 
clear  that  the  elders  are  to  hold  this  holy  ordinance  sacred. 
They  are  not  carelessly  and  indiscriminately  to  exercise  the  power 
of  the  Priesthood  conferred  upon  them  in  the  matter  of  healing, 
except  as,  first,  they  are  commanded  of  the  Lord;  or,  secondly, 
as  called  upon  by  those  who  desire  to  be  healed- 


EDITORS  TABLE.  1033 

The  Latter-day  Saints  believe  in  the  power  of  God  to  heal  the 
sick  through  the  administration  of  the  Priesthood.  They  believe 
that  the  signs  promised  in  the  scriptures  do  follow  the  believer, 
that  through  faith  in  Christ  and  in  the  ordinance  which  he  has 
instituted,  men  and  women  may  be  healed,  and  may  do  many  won- 
derful works.  They  believe  that  through  the  priesthood,  the  ser- 
vants of  Jesus  Christ  may  cast  out  evil  spirits,  speak  in  tongues, 
lay  hands  on  the  sick,  in  his  name,  to  their  recovery;  and  that  by 
the  power  of  faith  in  Christ,  people  may  be  preserved  from  pois- 
onous reptiles,  and  ether  dangers. 

Ancient  and  modern  scriptures  are  clear  in  stating  the  gen- 
eral manner  of  healing  the  sick.  We  are  told  in  the  word  of  the 
Lord  to  the  Prophet  Joseph:  "And  whosoever  among  you  are 
sick,  and  have  not  faith  to  be  healed,  but  believe,  shall  be  nour- 
ished with  all  tenderness,  with  herbs  and  mild  food,  and  that  not 
by  the  hand  of  an  enemy.  And  the  elders  of  the  Church,  two  or 
more,  shall  be  called,  and  shall  pray  for  and  lay  their  hands  upon 
them  in  my  name ;  and  if  they  die  they  shall  die  unto  me,  and  if 
they  live  they  shall  live  unto  me.  *  *  *  *  And  again,  it 
shall  come  to  pass  that  he  that  hath  faith  in  me  to  be  healed,  and 
is  not  appointed  unto  death,  shall  be  healed." — Doctrine  and  Cov- 
enants 42:  43,  44,  48. 

Again  the  apostle  James  declares  to  the  former  day  Saints: 

"Is  any  sick  among  you?  Let  him  call  for  the  elders  of  the 
Church  and  let  them  pray  over  him,  anointing  him  with  oil  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord;  and  the  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick,  and 
the  Lord  shall  raise  him  up;  and  if  ye  have  committed  sins,  they 
shall  be  forgiven." — James  5:  14,  15. 

In  the  experience  of  Christ  on  this  continent  when  he  healed 
the  Nephites  and  blessed  their  children,  as  related  in  III  Nephi  17, 
we  have  again  a  concise  and  general  outline  of  the  manner  of 
healing  and  blessing  the  sick  who  have  faith. 

It  appears  from  these  examples  that  the  Lord  has  at  no 
time  seen  fit  to  give  the  detailed  wording  of  these  ordinances,  but 
has  left  it  to  the  discretion  of  the  officiating  elder  and  the  dicta- 
tion of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 

The  question  has  been  asked  us:  which  is  correct  to  say  in  con- 
secrating    oil,     "for    the     healing     of     the    sick,"    or    "for 


1034  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

the  anointing  of  the  sick?"  Our  questioner  here  enters  techni- 
cally into  details  which  were  better  left  entirely  to  the  spirit  of 
the  occasion.  There  is  no  set  form  for  "consecrating  oil,  "though 
it  would  appear  that  the  consecration  is  intended  both  for  the 
anointing  and  the  healing  of  the  sick.  The  ordinance  should  be 
performed  under  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  such 
words  should  be  used  as  are  consistent  with  what  is  being  asked 
for.  We  should  remember  that  the  oil  should  be  consecrated, 
dedicated  and  set  apart  for  holy  purposes,  to  be  used  in  the  house- 
hold of  faith  "for  the  healing  of  the  sick"  or  "for  the  anointing  of 
the  sick."  Both  phrases  may  be  used  with  propriety.  It  should 
be  remembered,  however,  that  it  is  the  prayer  of  faith  that  saves 
the  sick,  and  the  Lord  who  raises  them  up,  not  the  oil,  though 
we  are  commanded  to  anoint  with  oil  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
(Doctrine  and  Covenants  42:  44,  48;  35:  9,  15.)  And  a  word  to 
elders  on  anointing.  To  anoint  is  to  rub  over  with  oil.  A  drop 
applied  to  a  head  covered  with  artifices  in  the  hair,  so  that  the  oil 
cannot  reach  the  body,  is  not  anointing,  does  not  comply  with  the 
commandment,  and,  in  my  opinion,  is  null  and  void. 

Another  similar  question  is  asked:  In  sealing  the  anoint- 
ing, should  the  following  words  be  used:  "And  cause  that  this  oil 
shall  penetrate  your  system?"  As  stated  before,  there  is  no  form 
for  sealing  the  anointing;  that  also  should  be  done  according  to  the 
inspiration  and  dictation  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  however,  it  seems 
reasonable  that  it  is  not  the  oil,  but  the  power  and  influence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  that  we  pray  may  penetrate  the  system,  to  his 
healing.  It  would  be  perfectly  appropriate  to  say,  "and  cause 
this  ordinance  may  have  effect  according  to  our  faith,  that  the 
healing  influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  may  penetrate  his  system 
that  the  sick  may  be  saved  and  that  God  will  raise  him  up." 

One  more  thought,  men  are  not  heard  for  their  much  speak- 
ing. Dirpct,  simple,  heartfelt,  supplication  for  what  we  want  and 
need  is  the  best  and  most  effective  order  of  prayer.  What  prayer 
could  be  more  appropriate  to  the  apostles  of  Christ,  whom  he  was 
sending  out  to  preach  the  Gospel  without  purse  or  scrip,  than. 
"Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread?"  But  to  the  person  who  has  his 
thousands  and  his  millions,  such  a  prayer  is  not  appropriate.  He 
should  ask  when  he  prays  for  the  things    he   needs.     Also    our 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  IO35 

prayers  should  be  short,  simple  and  to  the  point.  I  remember  on 
one  occasion  a  number  of  the  authorities  visited  Erastus  Snow 
when  he  was  very  sick;  one  of  them  asked  if  he  desired  the  breth- 
ren to  administer  to  him,  "Yes,  indeed,  I  do;  but  I  don't  want 
them  to  smother  me  with  long  prayers,"  was  his  answer. 

But  let  us  repeat  again,  that  rather  than  having  set  forms, 
the  elders  should  live  so  that  they  may  have  the  inspiration  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  when  called  upon  to  officiate  in  the  ordinances,  then 
their  prayers  will  be  simple,  direct,  appropriate  and  effective  in 
the  sight  of  God. 

Joseph  P.  Smith. 

Loyalty. 

President  George  H.  Brimhall's  remarks  at  devotional  exer- 
cises in  the  Brigham  Young  University,  March  16,  1911,  apply 
with  equal  force  to  other  than  recalcitrant  students.  We  are  all 
beneficiaries  of  the  Lord  our  God,  and  the  cause  which  he  has 
founded  is  our  cause: 

I  compliment  you,  on  your  last  week's  work.  One  and  three- 
tenths  per  cent  failing,  last  week.  That  is  reaching  a  high  stand- 
ing— the  best  record  since  we  have  been  keeping  data  along  this 
line.  I  remind  the  students,  this  morning,  that  each  one  is  a 
beneficiary  of  the  Church.  You  have  not  paid  during  the  past 
year  one  cent  of  tuition.  Your  entrance  fees  have  not  met  the 
expenses  of  heating,  lighting  and  taking  care  of  the  institution,  to 
say  nothing  of  interest  on  the  capital  invested.  So  you  can  readily 
see,  from  this  point  of  view,  that  you  are  beneficiaries  of  the 
Church. 

You  have  been  the  guests  of  the  Church,  and  you  have  also 
been  the  guests  of  the  board,  who  have  served  without  pay.  I 
hope  none  of  you  will  assume  to  be  host  or  hostess.  I  hope  you  will 
have  sufficient  confidence  in  those  who  have  been  providing  this  pro- 
gressive educational  feast;  I  hope  you  will  have  sufficient  confi- 
dence in  the  institution  known  as  the  Church,  and  in  those  whom 
the  Lord  has  called  to  direct  in  that  Church,  to  feel  that  it  is 
amply  able  to  take  care  of  its  children.  I  did  not  create  this 
university;    you   did   not  create  it.     I  have  not  maintained  it; 


1036  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

you  have  not  maintained  it.  I  am  an  employee.  And  shall  the 
employees  presume  to  instruct  the  employer  and  tell  him  how  his 
business  should  be  run?  Is  it  good  taste  on  the  part  of  the  guest 
to  indicate  how  the  banquet  shall  be  served?  I  wish  to  declare  to 
you  that  no  one,  either  guest  or  outsider,  shall  stop  the  progress 
and  growth  of  this  school.  The  prophets  (?)  who  are  proclaiming 
that  the  school  will  go  down  if  the  present  Church  policy  is  pur- 
sued; the  prophets  (?)  who  are  proclaiming  that  any  organization 
or  division  of  the  Church  will  go  down  if  Church  policy  is  pursued, 
will  be  found  among  the  prophets  of  Baal,  if  the  voice  of  the 
prophet  of  God  is  adhered  to,  and  if  the  policy  that  the  Church 
has  established  is  followed,  because  the  Church  will  take  care  of 
its  school,  and  will  also  see  that  all  divisions  of  the  Church 
prosper. 

Last  night  I  read  this  statement:  "And  that  night  nine 
babes  were  born  in  that  camp  of  sleet,  snow,  wind,  frost;  and 
across  the  river  the  fugitives  could  see  flickering  lights  here  and 
there  in  the  homes  from  which  they  had  been  driven,  now  occu- 
pied by  a  mob" — palatial  homes  they  were  at  that  time,  not  hov- 
els, but  homes  of  brick  and  wood.  They  have  stood  there  for  more 
than  half  a  century,  and  are  monuments  of  the  faith  and 
patriotism  of  this  people.  The  fugitives  sheltered  by  those  four 
hundred  wagons  and  tents,  were  the  people  of  whom  we  are  the 
children.  There  were  slight  murmurings  in  that  camp,  by  those 
who  felt  that  Brigham  Young  was  leading  them  astray,  but  the 
great  majority  of  that  camp  said,  "The  God  of  Israel  is  our 
guide."  That  was  an  hour  to  test  their  faith — faith  in  God  and 
his  living  oracles.  And  so  they  marched  forth  with  their  faces, 
day  after  day,  towards  the  setting  sun.  Where?  There  was  no 
one  to  tell  them.  Some  presumed  California;  others  said,  to  the 
mountains.  Around  their  camp-fires  they  sang  the  song  of 
"Upper  California."  That  is  the  class  of  people  that  this  school 
has  behind  it — men  and  women  who  have  passed  through  such  sac- 
rifices. 

I  ask  you,  my  beloved  students,  not  to  give  evidence  to  the 
world  that  you  have  lost  faith  in  the  leaders  of  Israel.  I  ask  you 
not  to  borrow  the  trumpet  of  the  disbeliever,  and  sound  the  bugle 
blast  to  the  world  that,  at  the  banquet  where  you  have  been  feed- 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  1037 

ing  you  have  been  served  with  something  that  has  taken  you  off 
the  firm  rocks  of  faith  in  God,  upon  which  your  ancestors  stood 
and  built  for  you.     I  ask  you  to  think  of  these  things. 

If  President  Joseph  P.  Smith  wants  my  counsel,  he  gets  it.  If 
the  board  wants  my  advice,  they  get  it;  but  I  am  not  going  to 
advise  my  board  through  avenues  that  are  antagonistic  to  the 
institution  that  built  the  school.  Remember  that,  fellow  students. 
I  would  rather  my  name  be  written  on  a  tombstone  than  to  see  it 
in  any  array  that  could  be  justly  construed  to  class  me  against  my 
people;  and  when  I  say  against  my  people,  I  say  against  the  Priest- 
hood of  God,  that  I  have  learned  to  follow  and  not  to  oppose.  It 
is  hard  to  keep  still.  Oh,  it  is  hard  to  stand  still;  but  it  is  harder 
to  keep  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord. 

Now  in  spite  of  all  that  may  be  said  or  done,  the  authorities 
of  this  school  and  of  the  Church  school  system  will  decide  its  pol- 
icy; and  those  who  work  under  the  head  know  there  is  no  power 
to  judge  the  policy  of  the  school,  except  those  who  preside  over 
it.  If  there  be  a  student  or  a  teacher  who  recognizes  any  other 
directive  source  than  that  provided  by  the  Church,  they  may 
appeal  to  that  source;  but  before  anyone  does  this,  in  good  con- 
science, in  good  form,  I  suggest  that  before  you  assume  the  right 
to  dictate  that  you  retire  from  our  banquet 

George  H.  Brimhall. 


Hints  to  the  Editors. 

The  editors  receive  many  suggestions,  criticisms  and  com- 
mendations, from  the  readers  of  the  Era,  of  general  interest  to 
the  public.  Some  of  these  good  things,  we  are  tempted  to  print 
from  time  to  time: 

Have  you  ever  noticed  that  the  churches  are  open  only  when  the 
saloons  are  closed,  ai>d  that  the  saloons  are  open  six  days  and  most  of 
each  night  a  week, while  the  churches  are  open  at  the  most  six  hours  one 
day  each  week?  And  yet  some  people  wonder  why  the  church  is  losing  in- 
fluence.— A. 

We  make  life  strenuous  by  our  extravagances  and  artificial  wants, 
so  that  we  have  very  little  time  to  study  on  lines  of  spiritual  develop- 
ment.    Though  the  world  is  growing  better  in  many  things,  the  great 


1038  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

mass  of  people  is  thronging  the  broad  road  to  destruction.  When  turn- 
ing the  separator  this  morning,  I  noticed  the  stream  of  cream  was  very 
small  compared  with  the  stream  of  skimmed  milk. So  it  is  with  humanity. 
There  is  room  in  a  very  narrow  road  for  the  cream,  but  the  skimmed 
milk  needs  a  very  broad  road,  and  then  it  seems  crowded.  I  was  told  by 
a  man  the  other  day  who  was  representing  a  tobacco  house  that  the  con- 
sumption of  tobacco  in  this  country  had  increased  40  per  cent  in  the  last 
year,  and  the  use  of  intoxicants  is  also  increasing.  I  am  thankful  f  »r 
the  Word  of  Wisdom.  It  is  a  great  blessing  to  all  who  obey  it.  I  am 
very  thankful  that  the  Lord  called  me  in  my  boyhood  and  gave  me  the 
knowledge  of  the  way  of  eternal  life.  I  am  thankful  for  the  good  re- 
ports that  come  to  us  of  the  condition  of  the  work  of  the  Lord  at  home 
and  abroad.  May  the  great  work  continue  to  roll  on. — Patriarch  Wil- 
liam Halls,  Mancos,  Colo. 

While  sitting  in  the  Tabernacle  and  listening  to  your  excellent  paper 
on  amusements  for  the  young,  at  the  M.  I.  conference,  I  promised  myself 
to  compliment  you  on  your  effort  in  that  line.  It  is  refreshing  to  me  — 
and  what  appeals  to  me  will  appeal  to  thousands  of  other  sincere  parents 
struggling  for  the  real  uplifting  of  their  children — to  hear  once  in  a 
while  some  practical  sense  injected  into  remarks  touching  that  wonder- 
ful, intricate  and  seemingly  fearfully  perplexing  subject — amusement 
for  our  children.  If  but  a  fraction  of  the  time,  talent,  and  energy  now 
spent  in  exploiting  amusement  for  our  young  people  were  utilized  in  de- 
vising means  of  useful  employment  for  this  same  class  of  individuals,  I  do 
not  hesitate  to  assert  that  we  should  have  better,  nobler,  more  useful 
and  positively  more  valuable  young  people  than  at  present.  As  it  is  we 
rear  a  lot  of  assuming,  expectant,  demanding,  dependent,  leaners.  Where 
are  the  lifters  among  our  young  people?  There  are  some,  but  the>  are 
very  few.  Parents  must  furnish  the  sinews  of  war,  be  up  early  and 
late,  scheme,  plan  and  toil  untiringly.  Who  assists  them?  As  a  rule 
not  the  young,  strong,  healthy  and  beautiful  specimens  of  manhood  and 
womanhood,  their  sons  and  daughters.  The  children — grown  men  and 
women,  brim  full  and  running  over  with  energy — must  just  now  plan 
for  excursions,  arrange  for  parties,  obtain  books,  papers  and  periodicals 
enabling  them  to  provide  games  for  every  day  in  the  year.  And  they 
mustbe"on"to  every"stunt"in  the  field.  The  field  that  yields  the  golden 
grain?  No;  Pa  can  see  to  that.  Ma  can  feed  the  calves  and  the 
pigs.  That's  about  the  way  it  goes,  my  dear  brother.  Any  wonder  that 
the  average  thinking  parent  feels  tired? — Dr.  Charles  L.  Qlsen,  Murray. 

At  the  Brigham  Young  University,  the  students  are  invited 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  1039 

to  hand  in  gems  of  literature  with  which  they  come  in  contact, 
and  which  have  affected  their  lives  more  than  any  other  sentiments. 
The  following  was  selected  by  Dr.  George  H.  Brimhall  from  a 
number  submitted  by  the  students  and  sent  us  as  worthy  of  a  place 
in  the  Era: 

It  is  not  for  you  to  waste  your  time  in  useless  speculation  as  to  the 
unknowable  source  of  your  life's  stream,  or  in  seeking  to  trace  it  in  the 
ocean.  It  is  enough  for  you  that  it  is,  and  that,  while  it  runs  its  brief 
course,  it  is  yours  to  make  it  yield  its  blessings.  For  this  you  must 
train  your  hand  and  eye  and  brain— You  must  be  in  life  a  fisherman. 

Referring  to  the  article  on  the  statues  of  the  Prophet  and 
Patriarch  Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith  in  the  August  Era,  President 
Heber  J.  Grant  writes  to  the  associate  editor:  "I  was  surprised 
that  you  should  have  made  the  mistake  of  saying  that  M.  M. 
Young  was  the  son  of  Joseph  Young.  His  work  has  so  often  been 
referred  to  as  the  work  of  the  grand-son  of  Brigham  Young,  and 
he  has  also  been  written  of  as  the  son  of  the  late  M.  M.  Young, 
in  a  number  of  articles;  and  wherever  you  got  the  idea  that  he 
was  Joseph  Young's  son,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know."  The  associate 
editor  pleads  guilty  to  the  error,  and  stands  corrected.  M.  M. 
Young,  the  artist,  is  the  son  of  M.  M.  Young  who  was  the  son  of 
Brigham  Young. 

Mr.  J.  Emil  Soderquist  of  Ogden  says  that  several  years  ago 
the  following  question  was  put  to  him.  He  answered  it  at  that 
time  in  the  way  he  thought  was  right.  Since  then  each  time  as  he 
has  thought  of  it  he  would  give  a  slightly  different  answer,  until 
his  present  answer  would  be  very  different  from  the  one  of  two 
years  ago.  The  question  follows:  "What,  in  your  opinion,  con- 
stitutes a  successful  life?  Give  reason  therefor."  He  asks  that 
we  give  the  question  space  in  the  Era  and  requests  as  many  as 
desire  to  answer,  hoping  that  the  best  answers  may  be  printed  in 
our  magazine.  We  will  be  glad  to  send  the  Improvement  Era 
for  one  year  each  to  the  three  persons  who  shall  give  the  best 
answers,  and  will  be  pleased  to  hear  from  any  one  who  may  have 
something  to  say  on  the  subject.  The  answers  should  consist  of 
not  more  than  300  or  400  words.  The  Junior  Manual  for  1911- 
12  bears  upon  this  subject. 


Messages  from  the  Missions. 


Elder  John  T.  Craner,  of  the  North   Indiana  Conference,    Marion, 
Indiana,  June  17,  says  that  the  elders  in  that  missionfield  had  been  doing 

outdoor  work  during  the  past 
few  months,  in  the  country. 
They  have  lived  with  the  people 
and  have  learned  that  when  the 
elders  do  their  part  the  Lord 
always  prepares  the  way  for  his 
servants.  The  people  are  get- 
ting more  friendly  toward  the 
elders  year  by  year,  and  treat 
them  well.  A  number  have 
said  that  they  wish  to  return  the  kindness  shown  to  them  by  the  Bureau 
of  Information,  while  in  Salt  Lake  City.  The  elders  are,  from  left  to 
right:  John  A.  Bybee,  Ucon,  Idaho;  John  E.  Danielson,  Heber,  Nels  But- 
ler, Santaquin,  Utah;  and  John  T.  Craner,  Oakley,  Idaho. 

Elder  Charles  F.  Barnes,  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  sends  a  photo, 
graph  of  the  Latter-day  Saints  meeting  house  just  erected  by  a  number 
of  the  elders  in  the  Colum- 
bia, South  Carolina  confer- 
ence. The  building  is  lo- 
cated at  Pireway,  North 
Carolina.  Credit  is  due  to 
Elders  Clarence  Hart  and 
Leroy  Black  for  taking  a 
prominent  part  in  its  erec- 
tion. It  will  seat  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  people. 
The  material  and  extra  work 
was  furnished  principally  by 
non-members  of  the  Church, 
there  being  only  seven  mem- 
bers in  the  immediate  neigh- 
borhood.    The  Saints  have  many  friends 


On  the  21st  of  May  a  branch 


EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


1041 


conference  was  held  in  the  building,  when  President  C.  A.  Callis 
attended.  Saints  and  friends  feel  that  they  are  greatly  blessed  in  having 
such  a  comfortable  place  in  which  to  worship.  The  names  of  the  elders 
in  front  of  the  building  are,  left  to  right:  Leroy  Black,  Huntington 
Utah;  Clarence  Hart,  Menan,  Idaho;  Robert  L.  Ison,  Thatcher,  Arizona- 
Charles  F.  Barnes,  (President  of  the  Conference)  Parker,  Idaho;  William 
P.  Rowley,  Colonia  Pacheco,  Mexico;  C.  A.  Callis,  (President  of  the 
Southern  States  Mission)  Coalville,  Utah;  Henry  Whittaker,  Lyman 
Idaho. 


Edward  Darrington  sends  information  of  a  recent  meeting  of  the 
elders  of  the  East  Kansas  and  Independence  conferences  held  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri.  Twenty  elders  were  present,  besides  President  Ben- 
nion  and  Brother  Wells,  of  Salt  Lake  City.  Three  separate  priesthood 
meetings  were  held,  at  which  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  greatly  enjoyed 
in  the  testimonies  of  the  elders.  The  public  meetings  were  well-attended 
by  investigators  and  Saints.  "In  it  all  we  were  truly  shown  that  the 
Lord  was  with  us,  and  that  we  have  the  authority  to  preach  the  gospel.'' 
Temporally  the  elders  were  well  taken  care  of  by  the  Saints,  who  served 
lunches  at  the  hall.  The  elders,  reading  from  left  to  right,  are,  back 
row:  Orville  C.  Day,  A.  Sanburg,  J.  0.  Sorenson,  W.  A.  Jackman, 
Edward  Darrington,  S.  T.  Stanley.  Second  row:  William  Corbett,  W. 
H.  Duffin,  Elmer  Jackson,  H.  P.  Price,  William  Teeples,  E.  C.  Nebeker, 
P.  P.  Robinson.  Front  row:  0.  Taggart,  John  Denny,  H.  B.  Haws,  A. 
C.  Dangerfield,  (President  of  the  Independence  Conference)  C.  R.  Chris- 
tensen,  (President  of  the  East  Kansas  Conference)  Theodore  Johnson, 
M.  T.  Benson. 


1042  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

Elder  A.  F.  Wilson,  writing  from  Bury,  Lancashire,  England,  gives 
an  account  of  an  experience  which  some  elders  had  at  a  meeting  on 
Tuesday  evening,  July  25,  1911,  on  the  square  at  Ramsbottom,  Lanca- 
shire, England.  The  second  meeting  ended  in  the  violent  mobbing  of 
the  elders  whose  pictures  are  given  herewith.  He  proceeds:  "A  fine 
meeting  was  held,  and  the  Spirit  of  God  was  in  our  midst  in  abundance. 
Two  of  the  elders  gave  an  able  address  upon  the  principles  of  the  gospel. 
All  went  well  until  we  had  closed  our  meeting,  when  a  mob  of  about  five 
hundred  people  began  abusing  the  elders.  We  held  our  ground  as  best 
we  could,  until  it  got  so  hot  for  us  we  were  compelled  to  seek  shelter  in 
the  home  of  Brother  George  Howarth.  On  our  way  to  his  home,  the 
mob,  which  had  grown  to  about  a  thousand  people,  threw  clods,  stones, 
bottles,  old  shoes,  and  everything  within  reach  at  us,  but  fortunately 
for  us  none  were  seriously  hurt.  While  in  Brother  Howarth's  home  we 
sang  hymns  and  partook  of  a  very  nice  lunch  while  the  mob  raged  furi- 
ously outside.  We  remained  until  the  early  hours  of  the  morning, 
awaiting  the  dispersing  of  the  mob  so  that  we  could  return  in  peace  to 
our  lodges.  Venturing  out  in  the  open,  we  were  again  attacked  by  a  few 
angry  women,  but  treated  them  with  contempt  and  passed  safely.  The 
work  of  the  Lord  is  progressing  very  rapidly  here,  and  we  rejoice  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  although  we  receive  considerable  persecution." 


.  , 

SSSKM^  •#♦■1 

I 

■nifTi""" 

■ 

m   TCI>1 

En  ? 

*'B| 

"^B 

P*              "Wem 

J8Er    '* 

* 

ELDERS  OF  THE  MANCHESTER  CONFERENCE. 

Top  row,  left  to  right:  J.  J.  Allen,  Wellsville,  D.  D.  Bankhead,  Spanish  Fork,  A.  F. 
Wilson,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  H.  Graves,  Preston,  Idaho.  Second  row:  S.  O.  Bry- 
son,  Bountiful,  William  Chappie,  Ogden,  Utah. 


Passing  Events. 


Elder  Lester  Jenkins  Cannon  died  in  Lille,  France,  May  16, 
1911,  while  on  a  mission.  He  was  the  son  of  Abraham  H.  and  Sarah 
Ann  Jenkins  Cannon, and  was  born  in  Salt  Lake  City,  July  4,  1889,  where 
he  lived  in  the  Cannon  Ward  all  his  life.     He  left  for  his  mission  to  the 

Netherlands  July  9,  1909,  and 
was  assigned  to  the  French 
speaking  part,  laboring  in 
Liege,  Brussels,  and  Verviers, 
Belgium;  and  then  in  Lille, 
France,  where  he  died.  He 
became  very  proficient  in  the 
language,  and  did  most  of  the 
interpreting  at  the  last  confer- 
ence he  attended.  He  was  a  boy 
of  strong  faith,  having  been 
from  childhood  a  faithful  worker 
in  the  Sunday  School  and  Mutual 
Improvement  Association.  He 
was  industrious  as  well  as  faith- 
ful. He  had  a  powerful  phy- 
sique, and  was  a  young  man 
whom  disease,  it  would  seem, 
would  be  the  last  upon  whom  to 
make  an  attack.  He  was  of  a 
sunny  and  lovable  disposition 
and  made  friends  wherever  he 
went.  From  the  last  letter 
written  by  Lester  to  his  mother,  which  was  received  three  days  before 
she  heard  the  dreadful  news  of  his  death,  it  seems  that  he  had  recently 
had  a  number  of  very  remarkable  dreams.     One  was  that  he  saw  himself 


LESTER  JENKINS   CANNON. 


1044  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

laid  out  upon  a  table  or  couch,  with  President  Thatcher  and  two  strange 
men  standing  over  him,  a  dream  which  was  fulfiled  to  the  utmost  detail. 
Another  was  that  he  had  received  a  release  from  his  labors,  and  when  he 
remonstrated  with  the  president  for  sending  him  home  before  the  usual 
length  of  time  had  elapsed,  the  latter  assured  him  that  he  had  already 
performed  a  full  and  honorable  mission  and  could  be  of  more  use  else" 
where.  That  he  should  have  had  dreams  so  significant  is  not  more  re- 
markable than  that  he  should  have  told  them  to  his  mother,  for  the  eifect 
upon  her  was  sure  to  be  depressing,  and  yet  it  seems  to  have  been  wisely 
ordained,  for  it  prepared  her  in  a  measure  for  the  shock  of  the  later 
news — so  much  so  that  when  his  older  brother  George  J.  Cannon  went  to 
the  house  bearing  the  last  sad  message,  she  exclaimed  with  a  scream,  as 
soon  as  she  saw  him,  that  she  knew  that  her  beloved  youngest  son  was 
gone. 

Mr.  James  H.  Wallis,  of  Rexburg,  Idaho,  recently  cele- 
brated the  30th  anniversary  of  his  marriage.  As  a  souvenir  of  the 
occasion  he  had  a  card  engraved  containing  photos  of  himself,  his  wife 
and  their  fifteen  children.  He  sent  one  of  these  cards  to  Senator  Borah 
of  Idaho,  who  evidently  showed  it  to  ex-President  Roosevelt  who  there- 
upon promptly  sent  a  congratulatory  letter  to  Mr.  Wallis,  dated  June 
15,  1911,  which  reads  as  follows: 

My  Dear  Mr.  Wallis: — My  good  friend  Senator  Borah  has  sent  me 
a  card  showing  you  and  your  wife  and  family,  and  I  must  take  this 
opportunity  of  sending  one  word  of  hearty  congratulation  to  you  and 
your  wife  on  your  thirtieth  wedding  anniversary  to  wish  well  to  all  of 
you.  You  are  the  kind  of  American  citizen  I  thoroughly  believe  in,  and 
for  whom  I  feel  the  highest  regard.     Faithfully  yours, 

Theodore  Roosevelt. 

The  card  is  prized  very  highly  by  Mr.  Wallis  and  his  family.  Two 
sons  are  now  on  missions,  and  four  children  are  married,  and  there  are 
two  promising  grandchildren.  Mr.  Wallis  is  50  years  of  age  and  his 
wife  but  46.  She  is  the  proud  mother  of  all  the  children,  and  all  are 
single  births.     The  Era  adds  congratulations  to  the  family. 

From  the  Frozen  North,  Elder  K.  N.  Winnie  writes  from  Nome 
City,  Alaska,  to  the  Era  under  date  of  July  18.  He  «ays  that  the 
steamer  Corwin  had  recently  brought  twelve  and  one-half  tons  of  mail 
collected  in  Seattle  during  the  winter.  When  the  historic  Yukon  broke 
up.in  the  spring,  forty  odd  sacks  were  brought  over  by  steamer  from  St. 
Michael  that  had  been  sidetracked  along  the  winter  trail.  "The  admon- 
ition always  comes  to  me  in  the  time  of  disappointment:    Submit  thyself 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  IO45 

to  the  powers  that  be,  "until  He  comes  whose  right  it  is  to  reign.  Please 
continue  to  send  me  the  Era  volume  15.  This  is  a  most  beautiful  sum- 
mer, and  I  intend  to  make  a  sightseeing  and  picture-taking  trip  into  the 
famous  Saw-Tooth  range,  north  of  our  mining  interests.  The  Era  may 
receive  some  views  to  scatter  through  its  pages  from  time  to  time." 
Thanks,  and  a  pleasant  journey. — Ed. 

New  Wards  and  Changes  for  the  month  of  July,  1911,  as 
reported  by  the  Presiding  Bishop's  Office:  Ernest  A.  Griffin  was  sus- 
tained as  bishop  of  the  Escalante  ward,  Panguitch  stake,  to  succeed 
Andrew  Schow;  Richard  G.  Watt,  as  bishop  of  the  Thatcher  ward,  Bear 
River  stake,  to  succeed  James  Nelson,  Jr. ;  H.  B.  Coles  was  appointed 
ward  clerk  of  the  Thatcher  ward,  Bear  River  stake,  to  succeed  Amos 
Hatch;  T.  Ray  Rencher,  ward  clerk  of  the  Eager  ward,  St.  John's  stake, 
to  succeed  Orson  P.  Greer;  Joseph  M.  Martin,  ward  clerk  of  the  Millard 
ward,  Woodruff  stake,  to  succeed  E.  Harris;  Wm.  D.  Wilcock,  ward 
clerk  of  the  Escalante  ward,  Panguitch  stake,  to  succeed  Mary  A.  P. 
Schow;  Charles  C.  Johnson,  ward  clerk  of  the  American  Falls  ward, 
Pocatello  stake,  to  succeed  Lillie  J.  Muehlen;  Hyrum  A.  Reeve,  ward 
clerk  of  the  Tenth  ward,  Liberty  stake,  to  succeed  James  T.  Strong;  Jos- 
eph Steele,  ward  clerk  of  the  Circleville  ward,  Panguitch  stake,  to  suc- 
ceed Maggie  Peterson;  M.  D.  Allen,  ward  clerk  of  the  Kingston  ward, 
Panguitch  stake,  to  succeed  R.  A.  Allen;  Elkol  ward,  Woodruff  stake, 
has  been  disorganized;  Wm.  Robinson  was  appointed  ward  clerk  of  the 
Upton  ward,  Summit  stake,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  release  of 
A.  M.  Christensen;  Jesse  McCullough,  ward  clerk  of  the  Provo  Sixth 
ward,  to  succeed  Alfred  C.  Larson.  The  name  of  the  Burtner  ward, 
Millard  stake,  has  been  changed  to  Delta  ward,  Delta,  Utah.  The  address 
of  the  president  of  the  Fremont  stake,  has  been  changed  to  Rexburg, 
Idaho. 

Beautiful  Homes  In  Liberty  Stake  are  encouraged  by  the  M.  I. 
A.  Supt.  E.  M.  Ashton  and  Chairman  Orson  H.  Hewlett  of  the  Beautifi- 
cation  Committee  of  that  stake,  one  day  during  the  latter  part  of  June, 
visited  some  one  hundred  owners  of  homes  whose  properties  had  been 
entered  in  competition  for  cleaner  and  prettier  front  and  back  yards, 
which  was  instituted  by  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  of  that  stake  last  spring. 
The  activity  has  resulted  in  a  great  improvement  in  many  of  the  homes 
in  that  stake.  The  work  in  connection  with  awarding  the  prizes  was 
very  arduous,  and  difficult,  but  on  the  whole  gave  satisfaction  to  every- 
body concerned.     It  required  three  days   to   visit   the  homes  to  obtain 


1046 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


information  on  which  to  base  the  decisions.  In  delivering  the  thirty- 
three  awards  which  consisted  of  silver  cups  and  cash,  the  committee 
invited  a  number  of  officers  of  the  associations,  reporters  and  others  to 

accompany  them.  Thirty-three  homes  were 
visited  on  the  evening  that  the  awards  were 
distributed  and  it  was  an  inspiration  to  wit- 
ness the  smiles  of  satisfaction  as  well  as  the 
lovely  flower  gardens,  lawns  and  tidy 
back  yards  of  the  winners.  In  many 
instances  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
children,  boys  and  girls,  had  taken  special 
delight  in  beautifying  the  homes  and  mak- 
ing the  premises  beautiful.  Many  interest- 
ing stories  were  told  of  the  efforts  put  forth 
by  the  winners  for  the  prizes,  and  all  who 
entered  the  contest  were  rewarded  for  their 
efforts  in  more  beautiful  homes  and  surround- 
ing,even  if  they  received  no  a ward,and  so  were 
satisfied;  while  those  who  did  receive  awards 
were,  of  course,  doubly  paid  for  their  pains.  The  portraits  accompanying 
represent  one  of  the  many  cups  that  were  given  and  also  a  portrait  of 
the  Awarding  Committee  taken  at  a  home  awarded  a  prize  on  Ninth 
East  Street. 


ONE  OF  THE  CUPS    AWARDED 
IN  THE  LIBERTY  STAKE. 


Award  Committee,   of  the   Liberty   Stake  at  a   home  on   Ninth  East 

awarded  a  prize. 


Preliminary  Programs  and  Social  Affairs. 


At  the  general  conjoint  officers  meeting  of  the  Y.  L.  and  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  held 
in  the  Tabernacle,  Salt  Lake  City,  Sunday  morning,  June  4,  1911,  President  Heber 
J.  Grant  conducted  the  exercises.  President  Joseph  F.  Smith,  a  large  representa- 
tion of  General  Board  members  and  congregation  of  officers  and  members  were  pres- 
ent. President  Anthon  H.  Lund  led  in  prayer,  and  the  Ensign  male  chorus  sang.  A 
full  report  of  the  proceedings  follows: 


Preliminary  Programs. 

BY  ELDER  B.  S.   HINCKLEY. 

No  doubt,  the  primary  reason  for  a 
discussion  of  preliminary  programs  at 
this  meeting  is  that  we  have  not  held 
any  conjoint  officers'  meeting,  and  the 
preliminary  program  is  purely  a  con- 
joint affair.  One  feels  in  no  way  dis- 
posed to  offer  any  apology  for  discuss- 
ing this  seemingly  commonplace 
theme  in  the  most  prominent  place  in 
the  program  of  the  entire  conference 
when  he  considers  its  significance. 

I  believe  that  I  may  say.  with  all 
kindness,  that  lazy  makeshift  prelim- 
inary programs  are  answerable  for 
more  failures  in  the  ordinary  meet- 
ings than  any  other  one  factor.  Thirty 
minutes  is  assigned  for  the  prelim- 
inary program.  The  time  is  long 
enough,  and  it  is  short  enough.  These 
programs  have  been  in  operation  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  wherever  they 
have  been  carefully  carried  out  they 
have  resulted  in  immeasurable  good 
to  the  association. 

In  the  first  place,  the  preliminary 
program  should  be  prepared  by  the 
officers  of  the  association,  or  by  a 
committee  delegated  by  these  officers 
to  prepare  the  program.  When  it  is 
delegated  to  a  committee,  the  officers 
should  exercise  a  careful  censorship 
over  the  program,  to  see  that  nothing 
is  presented  that  is  not  wholly  in  har- 
mony with  the  dignity  and  culture  that 
should  characterize  Mutual  Improve- 
ment work. 

The  aims  are  very  definite:  In  the 
first  place,  it  is  designed,  by  these 
programs,  to  give  diversity  to  the  ex- 
ercises and  thereby  make  them  more 
attractive.  There  is  a  percentage  of 
people  who  will,  out  of  sheer  force 
of  duty,  attend  the  dryest  meetings; 
but  the  people  whom  we  wish  to  reach 
must  be  appealed  to;  we  must  have 
something  that  will  enlist  their  inter- 


est and  thus  induce  them  to  come  to 
the    association. 

The  second  reason  for  providing 
these  programs  is  to  encourage  a 
broader  and  better  culture  in  the  Im- 
provement work,  to  impart  a  general 
educational-  atmosphere. 

The  third  reason  is  to  cultivate  the 
talents  which  are  found  in  the  associ- 
ations. 

Some  very  beautiful  things  have 
been  said  on  preliminary  programs  at 
these  conferences;  and  scarcely  a 
Manual  has  ever  been  issued  in  whicli 
the  preliminary  program  has  not  been 
given  prominence  in  the  preface,  and 
in  some  Manuals  the  preliminary  pro- 
grams have  all  been  outlined.  But, 
notwithstanding  this,  there  seems  to 
be  some  inefficiency  on  the  part  of 
those  who  have  the  matter  in  charge. 
Thinking  this  matter  over,  I  am  led  to 
this  conclusion:  We  should  either  have 
good  creditable  preliminary  programs 
or  none  at  all;  and  I  am  inclined  to 
think  that  if  you  do  not  have  prelim- 
inary programs  the  associations  will 
suffer.  Therefore,  the  only  thing  to 
do  is  to  have  good  ones.  I  wish  I 
knew  how  to  lay  it  upon  the  hearts  of 
the  brethren  and  sisters  who  have 
this  matter  in  charge,  so  that  they 
would  give  it  that  serious  thought 
which  it  is  entitled  to  receive. 

About  nine  or  ten  words  tell  it  all: 
The  preliminary  program  must  be 
thought  out;  worked  out;  and,  carried 
out.  It  must  not  be  left  to  those  who 
have  not  a  direct  and  specific  interest 
in  the  work.  I  am  bold  to  say  that 
where  the  preliminary  program  is 
what  it  should  be,  your  associations 
are  eminently  successtul;  and  I  think 
it  would  be  very  difficult,  indeed,  to 
find  a  successful  association  where  the 
preliminary  program  is  a  failure. 

Now,  in  the  first  place,  would  it  not 
be  a  good  thing  for  the  stake  super- 
intendents, with  the  stake  boards,  to 
get  together  and  determine  upon  what 


1048 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


they  shall  do  in  the  way  of  prelimin- 
ary programs  for  the  coming  season; 
plan  the  affair;  think  it  out;  and,  if 
needs  be,  do  what  has  been  done,  with 
marked  success,  in  one  of  the  stakes 
of  this  city — present  to  the  ward  offi- 
cers a  typical  and  ideal  preliminary 
program?  Show  the  ward  officers  how 
to  do  it.  After  the  thing  is  outlined, 
it  takes  so  much  careful,  detailed  work 
to  have  everything  prepared  and  car- 
ried out  properly.  You  can  ask  a 
man  if  he  will  take  part  on  the  pro- 
gram. He  will  say,  "yes,"  with  a  sort 
of  apathetic  and  indifferent  air.  Prob- 
ably he  will  be  there,  and  probably 
he  will  not;  but  if  you  make  him  feel 
the  importance  of  going  there  with  a 
careful  and  thorough  preparation,  and 
get  a  definite  answer  out  of  him;  see 
that  his  car-fare  is  provided,  and  that 
he  knows  exactly  the  time  and  every 
detail  connected  with  it,  he  will  be 
there,  in  all  probability,  and  he  will 
make  the  necessary  preparation.  Then 
check  up  every  man  and  every  wom- 
an who  has  a  part  to  take,  and  see 
that  they  are  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  the  part  assigned  them. 
This  means  a  great  deal  of  work,  and 
work  in  this,  as  in  everything  else, 
spells  success.  After  the  thing  is  all 
outlined,  and  all  prepared,  then  it  is 
very  important  to  see  that  they  are 
there,  and  that  the  program  com- 
mences on  time,  and  that  it  is  con- 
ducted with  order,  dignity,  and  dis- 
patch. We  have  had  a  good  deal  of 
experience  in  this;  we  had  some  yes- 
terday,— if  you  will  pardon  me  for  di- 
verting. It  is  not  such  a  difficult 
thing  to  get  men  enlisted  in  athletic 
events,  but  it  is  a  tremendous  task  to 
get  them  there  and  get  them  on  their 
marks. 

There  are  some  things  which  we 
should  avoid,  and  some  things  which 
we  should  do.  Avoid  scolding  in  the 
preliminary  program;  that  is  not  what 
it  is  for.  I  never  saw  a  boy  that  you 
could  not  drive  away  from  the  home, 
or  anywhere  else,  if  you  kept  up  a 
good  systematic  process  of  scolding. 
Second, — avoid  sermonizing;  that  is 
not  what  the  preliminary  program  is 
for,  and  that  is  not  always  attractive. 
Third, — avoid  delays  and  makeshifts, 
due  to  a  lack  of  preparation.  Oft- 
times  the  preliminary  program  is  im- 
provised; they  get  anybody  they  can 
to  take  part,  anybody  who  happens 
to  be  there.  The  preliminary  program 
should  be  free  from  sensationalism, 
from    personalities,    from    burlesques, 


from  announcements  as  far  as  possi- 
ble. It  must  not  be  too  long;  thirty 
minutes  is  the  time.     Hold  to  it. 

Things  to  be  observed:  In  the  first 
place,  there  must  be  a  general  fitness 
of  things;  there  is  so  much  in  that 
phrase  "the  eternal  fitness  of  things!" 
There  should  be  a  proper  adjustment 
of  the  time  and  the  lesson  to  the  sea- 
son of  the  year.  It  should  be  inspir- 
ational, it  should  contain  an  appeal  to 
the  highest  and  best  that  is  in  one. 
It  should  be  artistic  and  well  selected. 
The  preliminary  program  is  made  up 
of  two  distinctive  parts — the  devo- 
tional exercises  and  the  educational 
part  of  it.  The  devotional  exercises 
are  made  up  of  singing  and  prayer, 
and  the  educational  side  of  it  is  made 
up  of  essays,  readings,  recitations,  and 
so  forth;  instrumental  and  vocal  mu- 
sic, current  events,  and  whatever  else 
that  could  and  ought,  with  wisdom,  to 
be  introduced  here. 

It  seems  to  me  that  the  atmos- 
phere of  the  meeting  depends  upon 
the  opening — the  singing  primarily; 
this  is  such  an  important  factor.  In 
attending  associations,  we  sometimes 
get  the  idea  that  they  are  mere 
classes;  they  seem  to  be  devoid  of 
that  fine  element  of  worship,  that  ele- 
ment which  lifts  the  soul  and  inspires 
men  to  think  and  to  do  things  of  an 
elevated  and  noble  type.  I  think  that 
we  ought  to  exercise  the  greatest  care 
to  commence  the  meeting  with  a  prop- 
er spirit;  and  nothing  will  contribute 
so  much  to  that  sanctifying  feeling  as 
good  singing.  There  isn't  anything 
that  so  depresses  a  person  of  refined 
sensibilities  as  to  listen  to  mechani- 
cal, listless,  make-shift  singing.  There- 
fore, let  the  singing  be  prepared  in 
time.  Have  everything  ready;  and  at 
the  given  moment  start  it  off.  It  is 
a  nice  thing  to  teach  boys  to  pray  in 
the  association;  and  what  a  serious 
thing  it  is,  if  the  spirit  of  prayer  is 
not  there,  to  have  a  boy  or  any  one 
else   pray. 

It  was  reported  that  in  some  asso- 
ciations the  preliminary  programs 
would  be  made  up  of  one  exercise — 
a  boy  or  girl  would  read  a  piece,  a 
play,  or  a  novel,  unduly  long;  or  at- 
tempt to  give,  in  fifteen  minutes,  a 
synopsis  of  some  book.  This  part 
often  is  taken  by  young  people  who 
are  inexperienced  in  these  affairs,  and 
as  a  consequence  the  work  was  unsuc- 
cessful. 

We  are  engaged  in  a  great  educa- 
tional work;  and   I   believe  if  I  were 


PRELIMINARY  PROGRAMS  AND  SOCIAL  AFFAIRS. 


1049 


superintendent    of    a    stake,    and    was 
honestly,    deeply,    and    religiously    de- 
sirous of  making  the  association  a  suc- 
cess, I  would  lay,  I  was  going  to  say, 
compound    stress    on    the    preliminary 
program.      Just    try    it    for    one    year; 
whether    you    have    anything    else    or 
not,  have  a  good  preliminary  program. 
Sometimes  it  is  thought  advisable   to 
put    on   the    program    boys    and    girls 
who  are  inexperienced  and  immature, 
who  do  their  best  but  who  do  not  suc- 
ceed very  well  in  this.     We  recognize 
that   there   isn't   anything   more   com- 
mendable than   to  discover  the  talent 
in   the   association,    and   bring  it   out; 
but  it   seems   to  me  that  it  would  be 
suicidal  to  continually  put  numbers  in 
the  preliminary  program  which  would 
not    encourage    an    attendance    at    the 
meeting,  even  if  it  did  encourage  the 
one  who  took  part.     They  should  be 
encouraged  and  fostered  where  it  will 
not    be    done    at    such    great    expense. 
In  Salt  Lake  City,  and  in  some  of  the 
other   stakes,   they   are   blest   with   an 
abundance   of  talent.     If  my  memory 
serves  me,   in   the   Ensign   Stake  they 
did    something    like    this,    which    suc- 
ceeded     beyond      their     expectations. 
They    selected,    for    instance,    for    one 
evening,  one  of  the  great  musical  com- 
posers.    They  had   some   person   give 
a    fine    character    sketch    of   the    com- 
poser, then  they  selected  a  few  of  the 
finest  artists  to  play  some  of  the  pop- 
ular   pieces    of    the    great    composer. 
This  certainly  carried  with  it  a  most 
commendable    feature,    so    far    as    the 
general    culture    was    concerned,    and, 
besides    that,    it    pleased    the    people, 
who  came,  and  it  resulted  in  an  unusu- 
ally  large    attendance    at    these   meet- 
ings.    Then  on  another  occasion  they 
had   children   give   the  program.      But 
the    success   of   the    matter    was    with 
those  who  had  it  in  charge,  who  took 
the  pains  to  see  that  every  detail  was 
finished    and    that    every    preparation 
was    made    for    the    exercises,    and    it 
was    presented    in    a    very    creditable 
and  satisfactory  manner.     As  a  result, 
a    petition    was    sent    to    the    General 
Board  asking  them  to  make  provisions 
for  a   Parents'   Class,   a  class  for  ma- 
ture men  and  women,  in  the  associa- 
tion, so  that  they  might  take  care  of 
these  older  people  who  came  to  wit- 
ness the  preliminary  program. 

May  the  Lord  bless  us  and  help 
us  in  our  endeavors  to  interest,  edu- 
cate, and  elevate  the  young  people  of 
our  Church.  Of  course,  running 
through    all   of   this,  must   be   an    ele- 


ment which  will  promote  faith  in  God 
and  faith  in  good  men  and  in  good 
women.  May  the  Lord  bless  us  that 
we  may  be  successful  to  this  end,  is 
my  prayer,  in  the  name  of  Jesus. 
Amen. 

Social  Affairs. 

BY  MRS.  EDITH  R.   LOVESY. 

My  dear  brethren  and  sisters,  I  trust 
that  while  I  shall  stand  before  you 
I  shall  be  able  to  make  myself  heard; 
and  I  crave  an  interest  in  your  faith 
and  prayers,  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
may  assist  me. 

As  Mutual  Improvement  workers, 
the  greatest  desire  in  our  hearts 
should  be  to  serve  God  and  keep  His 
commandments,  and,  with  His  help,  to 
teach  the  youth  of  Zion  the  way  that 
they  should  go.  This  is  a  great  re- 
sponsibility, and  I  feel  it  is  a  per- 
sonal one — to  do  all  we  can  for  Christ 
and  His  kingdom  here  upon  the  earth. 
Our  young  people  are  surrounded,  on 
all  sides,  by  every  form  of  temptation 
— wealth,  fashion,  promiscuous  pleas- 
ures; and  the  wiles  of  men  are  all 
working  to  draw  them  into  by  and 
forbidden  paths.  Our  Mutual  Im- 
provement boys  and  girls  stand  for 
all  that  is  highest  and  best,  so  far  as 
chastity,  purity,  and  honesty  are  con- 
cerned; but,  to  a  certain  extent,  we 
feel  that  some  of  them  are  lacking  in 
grace  of  manner,  and  for  this  reason 
are  misunderstood  by  the  world  at 
large.  We,  as  a  people,  know  there 
are  not  any  better,  cleaner,  more 
whole-souled  men  and  women  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth  than  are  the  Lat- 
ter-day Saints;  but  we  do  not  want  the 
lack  of  a  little  outward  polish  to  dim 
the  true  worth  of  the  youth  of  Zion. 
We  want  them  to  cultivate  a  noble, 
attractive,  every-day  bearing  in  our 
social  affairs,  and  in  our  mingling  to- 
gether we  should  endeavor  to  so  regu- 
late our  actions  that  we  will  not  bring 
pain  and  distress  upon  others.  Let  us 
always  remember  who  we  are  and 
whom  we  represent.  By  our  idle  words 
and  the  acts  of  our  idle  times,  we  can 
be  most  fairly  judged;  and  so,  in  our 
mingling  together,  we  have  ample  op- 
portunity of  showing  what  we  are. 
One  of  our  writers  has  said:  "By 
our  forms  of  amusement  we  show 
what  is  in  our  minds;  and  the  use  of 
our  leisure  is  a  sign-post  showing 
whether  our  course  tends  towards  sel- 


1050 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


fishness  or  towards  greater  brightness 
in  the  revelation  of  character  and  the 
service  of  mankind."  Men  not  only 
work  for  existence  and  power  but  to 
obtain  recreation  as  well.  Nor  do  they 
toil  just  to  increase  the  volume  of  ex- 
ports and  imports,  but  they  dream  of 
happy  hours  of  play.  They  picture 
themselves  traveling  in  strange  coun- 
tries, enjoying  their  leisure,  or  among 
the  hill-tops,  with  gun  and  rod,  or  at 
the  musical,  or  the  drama.  The  love 
of  pleasure  cannot  be  denied;  and  un- 
less proper  provision  is  made  for  its 
expression,  it  will  turn  into  all  sorts 
of  appetites  and  soul-destroying  pleas- 
ures. Therefore,  let  us  rouse  our- 
selves, as  separate  stakes  and  com- 
munities, and  provide  our  young  peo- 
ple with  plenty  of  recreation  and  so- 
cial affairs.  It  is  natural  that  youth 
should  be  joyous,  and  needful  that 
they  should  be  given  relaxation,  and 
diversion.  Now,  we  all  know  what  a 
holiday  is,  but  the  important  thing  is 
to  know  how  to  use  it,  else  no  good 
comes  of  it.  Besides  having  leisure,  it 
is  necessary  that  we  understand  what 
constitutes  recreation.  Another  of  our 
writers  has  said  it  should  include  some 
excitement,  some  strengthening  of  the 
less  used  fibers  of  the  mind  or  body.and 
the  activity  of  the  imagination.  It 
should  be  something  more  stirring  than 
loafing;  something  attractive,  and  not 
something  undertaken  as  a  duty.  An 
exciting  show  stirs,  but  it  does  not 
strengthen  the  mind.  Mere  change,  a 
fresh  excursion  every  day,  the  spec- 
tacle of  a  contest — these  wear  out  our 
powers;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  games 
well  played  fulfill  the  conditions,  and 
there  is  no  more  cheering  sight  than 
that  of  playing  fields  where  young  and 
old  are  using  their  limbs  intent  on  do- 
ing their  best.  One  of  the  most  not- 
able miracles  of  recreation  is  the  use 
of  the  imagination.  All  our  pleasure 
comes  from  within — and  not  from 
without.  Children  grow  tired  of  their 
toys,  men  and  women  of  their  pos- 
sessions, but  one  never  tires  of  the  im- 
agination, which  every  day  reveals 
something  new.  The  majority  of  peo- 
ple think  they  must  be  amused;  that 
they  should  put  forth  no  effort  on 
their  own  part;  but  the  great  secret 
lies  in  being  able  to  amuse  themselves; 
that  is,  their  pleasures  must  come 
from  the  exercise  of  their  own  facul- 
ties of  heart  and  mind.  We  know  that 
if  people  do  not  enter  whole-souled 
into  that  which  we  have  planned  for 


them  and  that  which  is  before  them, 
then  no  matter  how  hard  we  may  try 
we  can  not  entertain  or  please  them. 
The  Japanese  are  the  greatest  pleas- 
ure-takers in  the  world,  because  they 
have  within  themselves  a  taste  for 
beauty  and  worked-out  details,  and 
wherever  they  go  they  enjoy  the  use 
of  that  taste.  If  we,  in  our  mingling 
together,  would  be  more  observing, 
would  take  more  interest  in  that  which 
is  planned  for  us;  or  if  we  are  lovers 
of  nature,  and  when  taking  interest 
in  our  outdoor  sports,  if  we  would 
interest  ourselves  more  in  the  mys- 
teries of  nature — her  rocks,  and  plants, 
her  rivers  and  hills — then  we  would 
go  home  refreshed.  But,  on  the  oth- 
er hand,  if  we  lounge  about,  uncon- 
scious of  people  and  conditions,  and 
sit  in  a  corner  expecting  everything  to 
come  to  us,  looking  always  for  pleas- 
ure outside  of  ourselves,  then  we  will 
go  home  unsatisfied  and  disappointed. 
We  should  not  feel  that  the  lull 
from  our  winter's  work  and  our  meet- 
ings, means  an  empty  summer  time. 
If  the  spirit  of  work  be  entirely  cast 
aside,  and  our  young  people  are  left  to 
drift  without  any  well  worked  out 
plans,  we  may  find  this  spirit  of  leis- 
ure, undisciplined,  may  work  untold 
ruin.  It  is  not  enough,  as  officers,  to 
plan  popular  amusement,  but  to  be 
present  to  welcome,  to  direct,  and  to 
encourage  their  efforts.  We  would 
urge  that  the  most  of  your  recreations 
be  planned  outside,  during  the  sum- 
mer months,  for  there  is  no  greater 
tonic  for  tired  brain  or  nerves  than 
plenty  of  fresh  air,  sunshine,  and  con- 
tact with  nature.  You  officers  should 
plan  to  take  crowds  of  your  young 
people  to  places  of  interest  in  or  near 
your  towns;  organize  country  walks, 
or  excursions.  Trips  to  the  canyons 
are  always  a  source  of  delight,  but 
should  never  be  considered,  under  any 
circumstances,  unless  older  people  are 
taken  along.  The  parents  could  help 
their  children  to  enjoy  these  trips 
more  by  pleasant  talks  around  the 
evening  table,  teaching  them  what 
beauties  to  look  for  and  encouraging 
them,  on  their  return,  to  tell  of  their 
discoveries.  This  would  do  away  with 
so  much  aimless  wandering.  With 
great  care,  we  teach  our  young  people 
how  to  work;  but  I  think  it  is  neces- 
sary to  teach  them  how  to  enjoy 
their  being;  then  they  would  not  stand 
in  the  midst  of  nature's  glories,  all 
purple  and  golden,  and  green,  and  say: 


PRELIMINARY  PROGRAMS  AND  SOCIAL  AFFAIRS. 


1051 


"Which  is  the  way  to  the  scenery?" 
Then  they  could  never  feel  dull,  as 
they  so  often  do  now,  when  in  the 
midst  of  such  wondrous  beauty. 

On  these  trips,  have  your  plans  def- 
initely worked  out;  arrange  a  commit- 
tee on  outdoor  games;  cultivate  the 
habit  of  devoting  a  part  of  your  time 
to  singing;  and  then  do  not  start  your 
roaming  over  crags  and  hills  unless 
you  do  it  in  crowds.  Do  not  allow 
your  young  people  to  wander  any  dis- 
tance from  camp  unchaperoned.  Trips 
to  the  parks  could  be  planned  in  the 
same  manner,  but  always  with  proper 
precautions.  Then,  some  evening,  a 
long  ride  by  team  or  carriage  could 
be  taken  into  the  country,  and  upon 
returning  serve  light  refreshments. 
Another  evening,  a  long  trolley  ride 
could  be  planned,  taking  the  parents 
along,  and  stopping  en  route  at  the 
home  of  one  of  the  girls  or  boys  for 
music  or  a  refreshing  hour.  Musicals, 
well  planned,  whether  at  the  home  or 
at  the  church,  are  always  a  source  of 
delight;  and  at  these  times  endeavor 
to  bring  in  your  best  talent,  and  also 
encourage  latent  talent  in  your  midst. 

Dancing  is  a  perfectly  simple  di- 
version, natural  to  youth  and  high 
spirits;  and  the  desire  to  move  in 
time  and  tune  to  music  is  instinctive 
to  those  in  whom  the  sense  of  time 
and  tune  is  strong;  but  we  would 
strongly  recommend  and  urge  that  the 
young  people  do  not  attend  these  pub- 
lic dance  halls  unless  properly  accom- 
panied. If  our  girls  could  only  know 
how  much  of  their  womanly  dignity 
they  lose,  as  well  as  the  respect  of  the 
public  at  large,  they  would  not  be 
seen  at  such  places  unchaperoned.  Our 
Juvenile  court  officers  report  that  the 
beginning  of  the  downfall  of  the  girls, 
now  in  the  industrial  school,  is  largely 
due  to  attending  such  places  unchap- 
eroned. 

We  would  encourage  those  who  have 
musical  ability,  and  the  power  to  lead, 
to  organize  bands  in  their  communities. 
It  is  the  making  of  small  towns.  Some  of 
our  stakes  that  have  had  them  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  say  their  young  people  are 
more  interested  in  their  homes,  take 
better  part  in  their  entertainments  and 
in  their  holiday  programs.  We  all 
know  that  music  vitalizes  as  nothing 
else  can;  and  a  brass-band  has  the 
power  to  transform  a  crowd  from  a 
workaday  into  a  holiday  life. 

A  number  of  our  stakes  are  listen- 
ing to  this  appeal  for  recreation,  and 


as  a  result  are  giving  some  of  our 
young  people  work  in  gymnasiums; 
and  they  are  planning  their  athletic 
meets,  which  include  baseball,  basket- 
ball, football,  and  all  sorts  of  com- 
petitive races  and  contests.  We  feel  to 
congratulate  them,  and  would  encour- 
age more  to  fall  in  line.  With  just  a 
little  expenditure  of  effort,  bv  the 
boys,  and  some  small  expense,  every 
stake  could  have  its  tennis  court,  and 
its  croquet  ground  as  well,  thus  ooen- 
ing  a  wider  field  in  which  the  girls 
may  participate. 

I  had  thought  I  would  like  to  give 
you  some  definite  ideas  on  planned 
church  socials,  or  home  socials;  but  I 
feel  that  in  order  to  be  entirely  suc- 
cessful, I  would  have  to  be  closer  to 
you  than  I  am  at  the  present  time,  in 
order  that  you  might  catch  the  de- 
tails. Therefore,  I  shall  content  my- 
self with  giving  you  the  names  of 
some  excellent  books  along  these 
lines;  and  I  feel  safe  in  saying  that 
when  once  they  are  in  your  possession, 
you  will  wonder  how  you  got  along  with- 
out them : 

The  first  I  will  mention  is  Dame 
Curtsey's  book  of  Novel  Entertain- 
ments. This  is  for  every  day  in  the 
year,  giving  valuable  suggestions  on 
schemes  for  decorations,  games,  and 
lunches. 

The  second  is  Dame  Curtsey's  book 
of  Guessing  Contests.  So  long  as  you 
have  this  book,  you  will  never  lack  for 
anything  along  this  line. 

The  third  is  Gymnastic  Games  class- 
ified, by  E.  H.  Arnold,  M.  D.  This 
last  will  be  invaluable  to  you  in  fur- 
nishing games  for  your  canyon  and 
park  trips,  and  for  your  lawn  socials 
and  excursions. 

Why  is  it  that  young  people,  and 
older  ones  as  well,  always  enjoy  go- 
ing to  some  homes  and  some  wards, 
for  amusements,  and  social  affairs, 
more  than  to  others?  It  is  because 
there  is  always  some  little  surprise  in 
store  for  them,  something  well 
planned,  something  worth  while.  In 
all  that  you  do,  let  enthusiasm  enter 
into  it.  Be  enthused  over  your  own 
schemes  and  plans,  and  take  part 
yourself — else  how  can  you  expect  to 
interest  others?  With  some  artistic 
decorations  transform  your  dull  halls 
into  bowers  of  delight,  which  can 
easily  be  done  in  these  days  when 
materials  are  so  cheap.  Yes,  it  all 
takes    a    little   work   and    forethought; 


1052 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


but  that  is  always  the  way  with  any- 
thing  worth   while. 


"It  is  not  more  years  that  we  require, 
But  energy  and  inward  fire; 
It  is  not  time  we  lack — but  will, 
And  the   ability   to   fill   the   days   God 
gives  to  us. 


"The  world  wants  men  and  women 
who  are  not  afraid  of  deeds, 

Instead  of  those  who  cringe  and  quail 
before  every  little  gale, 

And  who  emit  the  weakling's  wail — If 
we  had  time." 


If  you  would  save  these  young  peo- 
ple, you  must  plan,  and  provide  bet- 
ter places  for  their  amusements — es- 
pecially in  the  outlying  districts — and 
plan  more  forms  of  recreation  for 
them.  Too  many  of  us  plan  only 
when  there  is  money  to  be  made,  rath- 
er than  for  the  pleasure  that  can  be 
given  or  the  good  that  can  be  done. 
We  must  furnish  more  forms  of  rec- 
reation for  the  young  people,  for  with- 
out them  religion  will  not  have  the 
same  power  to  reach  their  hearts. 

I  pray  that  we  may  each  be  able  to 
take  to  ourselves,  and  to  our  homes, 
those  things  •  that  will  be  helpful  to 
us,_  and  that  we  shall  endeavor  to  find 
enjoyment  only  in  those  things  which 
will  elevate  and  build  us  up;  and  let 
us  be  strong  enough  to  avoid  all  pas- 
times and  pursuits  which  will  tend  to 
tear  us  down,  or  destroy  our  high 
ideals. 

Again,  I  would  like  to  say  a  word 
to  the  parents.  Endeavor  to  take 
part  more  yourselves;  do  not  leave  all 
this  responsibility  upon  the  officers 
and  teachers  of  the  different  asoci- 
ations.  Plan  out  your  occupation  for 
each  day,  and  devote  a  certain  time  to 
take  part  in  most  of  these  pleasures 
with  your  children.  Lay  aside  some 
of  the  routine  work — you  will  have 
your  work  to  do  long  after  it  is  too 
late  to  save  the  souls  of  these  boys 
and  girls. 

Let  us  be  morally  thoughtful  about 
the  forms  of  amusements  we  encour- 
age or  patronize.  I  pray  that  you 
may  have  strength  and  courage  and 
ability  to  do  all  that  is  reciuired  at 
your  hands;  and  I  ask  it,  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ,  our  Redeemer.  Amen. 


Social  Affairs. 

BY    EDWARD    H.    ANDERSON. 

It  is  related  by  a  government  geol- 
ogist who  early  visited  Utah  mat  the 
"Mormon  problem,"  then  considered  a 
very  serious  affair,  would  soon  solve 
itself.  This  is  how  He  had  it  figured 
out.  There  is  a  great  fault  plane  in 
the  Wasatch  mountain.1,  reaching  from 
the  Cottonwoods  on  th«.  ^outh  to  the 
Warm  Springs  on  the  north.  Upon 
this  Salt  Lake  City  is  located.  Dur- 
ing_  some  time,  since  the  Bonneville 
period,  the  surface  of  the  ea^H  north 
and  south  of  this  plane  has  fallen  at 
various  times  some  forty  feet,  indicat- 
ing great  disturbances  of  the  earth. 
This  geologist  contended  that  the 
plane  upon  which  the  city  is  located 
would  be  sure  some  day  to  drop  down 
to  the  level  of  the  adjoining  land  and 
so  engulf  the  "Mormons"  and  settle 
the  whole  question.  It  would  be  a  drop, 
too,  a  drop  with  a  thud,  for  there  is  a 
distance  of  forty  feet  to  go,  and  it  will 
be  remembered  that  in  the  late  San 
Francisco  cataclysm,  the  original 
cause  was  only  a  movement  of  about 
four  inches. 

But  the  prediction  of  the  govern- 
ment geologist  can  never  now  be  ful- 
filled for  the  "Mormons"  were  not  all 
kept  on  the  fault-plane;  they  have 
grown  out  and  scattered  everywhere, 
so  that  even  if  Salt  Lake  City  were 
engulfed,  the  "Mormon"  problem 
would  be   as  lively  as  ever. 

I  learn  two  facts  from  this  little 
story:  first,  it's  a  good  thing  to  get  off 
a  fault-plane  in  case  an  accident  hap- 
pens; and  secondly,  if  you  want  to 
squelch  anything,  do  it  before  it  grows 
too  big  and  scatters.  Don't  wait  too 
long. 

The  point  of  the  illustration  may  be 
applied  to  our  social  affairs.  If  we  re- 
side upon  a  social  fault-plane  liable  at 
any  time  to  engulf  us,  let  us  get  off; 
and  let  us  not  be  too  long  about  it  for 
fear  our  faults  grow  so  rapidly  that  we 
cannot  master  them. 

Meaning  of  Social  Affairs. 

Now  as  to  the  significance  of  social 
affairs :  as  members  of  the  M.  I.  A.  we 
are  united  by  common  interests.  These 
are:  first,  our  religion,  and  secondly, 
our  special  organizations,  as  well  as 
our  communities  called  stakes  and 
wards. 

We  are  thus  a  society.     Naturally  we 


PRELIMINARY  PROGRAMS  AND  SOCIAL  AFFAIRS. 


1053 


have  mutual  relationships,  friendly 
companionships.  There  is  between  us 
as  a  whole  a  natural  understanding  or 
intercourse,  because  our  lives  and  pur- 
poses are  distinctively  shaped  with 
reference  to  one  another.  We  thus  be- 
come disposed  to  be  friendly  and  com- 
panionable— in  other  words  social  . 

That  which  is  done,  or  is  to  be 
done  in  any  proceeding  or  action  in 
our  social  lives  may  be  termed  an  af- 
fair. 

So  that,  in  short,  social  affairs  are 
the  friendly  and  companionable  rela- 
tionships and  actions  in  which  people 
with  a   common   interest   enlist. 

Social  affairs  in  a  broader  sense  em- 
brace the  highest  economic  and  ethical 
principles  that  can  be  applied  to  the 
problems  of  collective  living. 

How  the  M.  I.  A.  Can  Help. 

But  the  purpose  of  this  little  talk  is, 
to  briefly  introduce  some  of  those  so- 
cial affairs  that  might  perhaps  more 
appropriately  come  under  the  name  of 
community  duties,  personal  amenities, 
good  manners,  and  conduct,  and  that 
with  a  view  to  get  off  the  fault  planes, 
for  our  own  safety,  and  squelch  the 
evils  before  they  scatter  and  so  be- 
come too  formidable.  Of  course  we 
can  only  help.  Our  50,000  membership 
more  or  less,  is  only  a  small  part  of 
the  community,  but  we  are  large 
enough  to  exercise  great  influence  for 
good,  healthful,  clean  amusements, 
self-respect,  politeness  and  conduct 
among  our  communities  if  our  ener- 
gies are  rightly  directed.  We  can 
greatly  help  the  home  influence,  which, 
after  all,  is  the  basis  of  society  action, 
and  to  which  we  must  look  for  all  tell- 
ing reforms,  and  we  can  largely  sup- 
plement the  best  efforts  of  the  Church 
authorities.  I  would  think,  therefore, 
that  no  Church,  stake  or  ward  officer 
can  do  as  well  in  social  affairs  by  ig- 
noring the  Mutual  Improvement  or- 
ganizations as  by  making  good  use  of 
them.  I  am  happy  to  say  that  among 
the  62  stakes  and  700  wards  in  Zion, 
only  very  few,  three  or  four  stakes  at 
most  and  a  small  number  of  wards  ig- 
nore the  Mutual  organization  in  form- 
ing committees  to  devise  arrangements 
for  providing  amusement  and  recrea- 
tion for  the  young  people.  Nearly  all, 
wisely  as  we  think,  make  use  of  the 
members  of  our  organization  for  the 
work  and  many  of  them  have  turned 
the   social   affairs  over  nearly  entirely 


to  the  M.  I.  A.  under  the  supervision 
of  the  proper  Church  authorities. 

Keep  Holy  the  Sabbath  Day.      <\ 

In  the  first  place,  we  stand  for  a1, 
strict  observance  of  the  Sabbath  day. 
On  this  day  we  do  none  other  thing 
than  let  our  food  be  prepared  with  sin- 
gleness of  heart,  and  sacrifice  our 
thoughts  and  time  to  prayer,  contem- 
plation, and  to  pay  our  devotions  to 
God.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  we 
may  more  fully  keep  ourselves  un- 
spotted from  the  world.  This  firmly 
and  effectively  excludes  from  our 
thoughts  excursions,  parties,  ball 
games,  fishing,  buggy  and  auto  riding 
for  pleasure,  and  every  other  sport  on 
the  Sabbath  day.  We  believe  in  keep- 
ing holy  the  Sabbath  day.  A  com- 
mendable example  was  shown  us  on 
the  first  Sunday  in  April  by  the  driv- 
ers of  the  Wright  aeroplanes,  at  Bon- 
neville field,  near  Saltair.  The  bleach- 
ers were  filled  with  thousands,  and 
the  trains  were  carrying  other  thou- 
sands to  see  the  birdmen  fly  for  fun 
on  that  Sabbath  day.  But  Brookins 
and  Parmalee  would  not  fly,  for  they 
held  their  usual  telegraphic  order  from 
the  good  old  Christian  Wright  broth- 
ers :  "Remember  the  Sabbath  day ;  do 
not  fly."  No  amount  of  taunts  and 
cries  of  "You're  afraid,"  "You're  too 
good,"  changed  their  splendid  deter- 
mination and  purpose.  Latter-day 
Saints,  good  members  of  the  M.  I.  A., 
stand  for  this  kind  of  determination, 
action,  grit  and  conclusion.  We  hold 
an  order  more  sacred  than  one  from 
men.  God  has  revealed  to  us  the  in- 
junction: 

"And  that  thou  mayest  more  fully 
keep  thyself  unspotted  from  the  world, 
thou  shalt  go  to  the  house  of  prayer 
and  offer  up  thy  sacraments  upon  my 
holy  day; 

"For  verily  this  is  a  day  appointed 
unto  you  to  rest  from  your  labors,  and 
to  pay  thy  devotions  unto  the  Most 
High; 

"Nevertheless  thy  vows  shall  be  of- 
fered up  in  righteousness  on  all  days 
and  at  all  times: 

"But  remember  that  on  this  the 
Lord's  day,  thou  shalt  offer  thine  obla- 
tions and  thy  sacraments  unto  the 
Most  High,  confessing  thy  sins  unto 
thv    brethren,    and    before    the    Lord. 

"And  on  this  day  thou  shalt  do  none 
other  thing,  only  let  thy  food  be  pre- 
pared   with    singleness    of    heart    that 


1054 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


thy  fasting  may  be  perfect,  or,  in  oth- 
er words  ,that  thy  joy  may  be  full." 

We  have  one  resort,  Wandamere,  in 
Utah,  in  Salt  Lake  City,  and  perhans 
many,  I  hope  so  at  least,  in  the  coun- 
try and  the  states  surrounding,  where 
every  gate  is  locked  upon  the  Sabbath 
day,  and  the  spirit  of  peace  and  Sab- 
bath rest  remains  undisturbed.  It  is  a 
financial  success,  too,  and  deserves  to 
be.  It  is  a  witness  that  an  amusement 
and  recreation  resort  may  be  success- 
ful without  liquor  and  Sabbath  break- 
ing. The  owners  deserve  the  com- 
mendation of  all  Zion  for  the  examole 
they  have  set. 

A  Day  for  Amusement. 

But  then,  as  young  men  and  women 
of  the  Church,  we  would  be  pleased  to 
have,  instead  of  a  sporting  Sunday,  a 
day  or  part  of  a  day  during  the  week 
for  public  social  amusements  and  re- 
creation, when  we  may  be  free  to  en- 
joy ourselves  in  games,  picnics,  rides, 
excursions,  etc.,  under  proper  direc- 
tion and  always,  of  course,  pledging 
ourselves  to  such  personal  and  com- 
munity conduct  as  shall  stand  the  test 
of  good  society. 

Opposed  to  Cards. 

Next,  we  are  opposed  to  cards  and 
card  clubs,  because  card  playing  be- 
gets a  spirit  of  gambling,  undue  spec- 
ulation, and  awakens  that  unquench- 
able desire  to  get  something  for  noth- 
ing that  always  ends  in  disaster.  Fur- 
ther our  time  is  too  precious  to  waste 
in  games  that  end  in  dull  stupor,  a 
complete  destruction  of  religious  feel- 
ing, a  spirit  of  indolence,  and  an  inor- 
dinate desire  for  narcotics  and  stimu- 
lants. With  President  Smith  we  de- 
clare ourselves  "opposed  to  cards  and 
card  playing  in  any  and  all  forms  and 
Under  any  and  all  conditions."  We 
prefer  instead  intellectually  profitable 
and  healthful  games  and  pastimes 
such  as  chess,  checkers,  authors,  char- 
ades, and  the  like.  Only  the  other  day 
I  was  shown  a  plea  from  a  poor  un- 
fortunate wife  whose  husband  has  fal- 
len a  prey  to  cards  and  drink — for 
drink  follows  cards  as  sure  as  night 
follows  day.  She  was  pleading  that 
her  friend,  who  was  an  authority  in 
the  Church,  would  use  his  faith  and 
prayers  in  behalf  of  her  husband.  She 
writes: 

"My  husband  loves  his  family  and 
would  do  most  anything  for  us,  but 
cards  and  drink  are  slowly  but  surely 


dragging  him  from  our  home.  It 
seems  to  have  a  power  over  him  which 
he  is  unable  to  resist.  He  has  often 
tried  to  stop,  but  as  often  failed.  He 
is  just  a  young  man.  I  am  the  mother 
of  two.  I  have  done  everything  I 
could,  but  to  no  avail.  Give  me  your 
faith." 

Owning  Amusement  Halls. 

One  other  thing  needed;  in  too 
large  a  number  of  the  stakes  of  Zion 
public  amusement  places,  instead  of 
being  owned  by  the  wards  and  man- 
aged by  our  organizations,  are  held 
by  ordinary  private  corporations  who 
therefore  devise,  direct,  and  control 
the  amusements  of  the  young  people, 
always  with  an  eye  to  the  main  chance 
for  gathering  the  dollar.  While  some 
of  the  socials  offered  are  fairly  good, 
it  is  often  the  case  that  no  protection 
is  vouchsafed  the  young  people  except 
their  own  often  wavering  power  of 
self-control.  It  is  a  condition  that 
needs  remedy.  The  importance  of 
owning  our  own  halls  and  of  controll- 
ing and  directing  the  social  amuse- 
ments and  recreations  of  our  commu- 
nity is  only  second  to  controlling  and 
directing  their  moral  and  religious 
training,  and  has  besides  an  immense 
bearing  on  these  for  good  or  ill. 
Hence,  the  Church  or  her  organiza- 
tions may  well  count  it  a  sacred  duty 
to  provide  and  control  amusement 
halls.  The  time  was  in  our  commu- 
nity when  public  dance  halls,  erected 
to  make  dancing  and  other  recreation 
a  money  making  business,  where  any 
person  with  the  dollar  had  as  much 
right  as  any  other  person,  were  ta- 
booed; it  will  come  again  when  we 
wake  up  to  the  fearful  danger  of  turn- 
ing our  sons  and  daughters  out  to  be 
entertained  and  taught  and  trainee'  in 
social  conduct  by  people  and  corpora- 
tions who  have  not  the  slightest  inter- 
est in  their  character  or  welfare  except 
as  relates  to  the  fees  they  bring.  We 
favor  our  own  halls,  and  these  to  be 
conducted  without  regard  to  the  ques- 
tion, "Will  it  pay?"  Every  social  func- 
tion conducted  with  that  question  in 
view,  let  it  be  by  the  Church  or  the 
private  corporation,  is  a  social  failure. 
Though  a  social  success  need  not 
necessarily  be  a  financial. failure. 

Having  a  Good  Time. 

Now,  as  to  the  amount  of  amuse- 
ment we  ought  to  have.  We  should 
be  willing  to  train  ourselves  to  moder- 


PRELIMINARY  PROGRAMS  AND  SOCIAL  AFFAIRS. 


1055 


ation.      All   work  and   no   play   makes 
Jack  a  dull  boy,  but  all  plav  and  no 
work  makes  Jack  a  useless  shirk.  The 
well-balanced  boy  who  has  resp  ct  for 
himself  does  not  insist  on  going  sor-.e- 
where  for  amusement  seven   nights  a 
week.     He  cuts  it  down  to  one  or  at 
most  two,  always  by  permission  in  ad- 
vance of  father  and  mother,  and  then 
he  always  has  a  definite  place  to  go. 
When  father  or  mother  asks,  as  they 
always  should,  "Where  do  you  go  to- 
night?"   he   never   answers,    "Oh,   just 
down    town,"    or    "Just    out    with    the 
boys,"  or  sulks  and  ignores  the  ques- 
tion, as  if  it  were  an  impertinence  on 
the  part  of  his  parents!     He   gives   a 
definite,   cheerful  answer,   naming  the 
place  and  company,  and  you  may  be 
sure  he  is  where  he  said  he  would  be. 
This  gives  father  and  mother  rest  and 
peace  and  confidence  in  his  word,  and 
every    son    and    daughter    owes    them 
that.       Furthermore,    boys    and    girls 
owe  them  cheerful  obedience.     In  case 
it  is  their  wisdom  and  pleasure  to  say 
no,  the  boy  or  girj  is  to  cheerfully  ac- 
quiesce.    To  do  so  shows  due  respect, 
admirable     self-control,     a     manliness 
and  womanliness  leading  through  obe- 
dience and  sacrifice,  to  the  founding  of 
true  character.     Obedience  to  duty  is 
the  basis  of  a  proper  education.     No 
amount     of     scientific     knowledge     or 
scholastic  learning  in  the  arts  and  sci- 
ences,  can   compare   with  the   import- 
ance of  being  in  possession  of  a  cor- 
rect understanding  of  one's  duties  to 
God  and  his  fellow  men;  of  having  a 
right  conception  of  the  responsibilities 
that   all  good    men    and   women    must 
assume.      The    curse    of   the    world    is 
selfishness.      The    curse    of    society   is 
selfishness.    The  blight  of  happiness  is 
selfishness.  On  the  contrary  the  bless- 
ings of  life  are  generated  in  unselfish 
service,  in  unselfish  obedience  and  in  a 
recognition  of  and  a  willingness  to  be 
disciplined    by    constituted    authority. 
We  hear  much  of  the  duty  of  parents 
to    their    offspring,    and    our    Juvenile 
Courts  are  prone,  and  often  justly,  to 
lay  at  the   feet  of  father   and   mother 
the  responsibility  for  the  waywardness 
of  their  children;  but  if  that  be  true, 
it   is   the   effect  of  early  not   teaching 
them  the  glory  of  discipline,  the  ma- 
jesty   of    obedience,    and    the    pusillani- 
mity and  cowardice  of  selfishness.     If 
they   have    been    rightly   taught   these 
truths  so  that  they  have  a  correct  un- 
derstanding of   duty,   the   parents   are 
not  to  blame,  but  the  children  on  the 


other  hand  will  be  held  responsible 
for  neglect  of  duty.  When  duty  whis- 
pers, "you  must,"  the  young  man  and 
young  woman  should  be  disciplined  to 
answer  cheerfully,  "I  can  and  I  will." 
If  no  such  answer  is  forthcoming  the 
responsibility  rests  with  the  young 
person  who  has  been  properly  trained. 
By  the  time  children  are  fourteen 
years  of  age,  they  should  know  their 
duty  and  failing  to  do  it  should  be 
held  largely  responsible  for  the  con- 
sequences. You  never  find  a  boy  who 
understands  his  duty  wasting  his  leis- 
ure hours  in  loud  guffaws,  evil  talk, 
and  dirty  stories,  on  the  street  corners, 
in  the  grocery,  or  the  blacksmith  shop. 
You  never  find  him  in  the  pool  room 
or  the  saloons.  Those  places  are  to 
him  inattractive  social  failures.  He 
devotes  his  leisure  hours  to  some  use- 
ful hobby  or  to  clean  mental  or  ohysi- 
cal  recreation.  He  has  learned  that  to 
get  the  most  benefit  out  of  any  good 
thing  one  must  earn  it  by  modera- 
tion, obedience,  and  self-denial — not 
by   self-indulgence    and   waywardness. 

What  Can  We  Provide? 

Now  a  few  thoughts  on  what  we  can 
do,  socially,  as  associations,  and  our 
conduct  personally  in  doing  it.  "Speak- 
ing candidly,"  says  Superintendent  E. 
M.  Ashton  of  Liberty  Stake,  "where 
our  social  events  have  been  neglected, 
our  Mutuals  have  suffered  severely. 
On  the  other  hand,  where  the  ward 
officers  have  been  inclined  to  lead  in 
social  affairs,  our  organizations  have 
been  full  of  strength  and  vigor 
through  the  whole  season.  I  would 
urge  that  all  of  our  Mutual  officers  get 
closer  to  the  boy  by  introducing  as 
many  social  events  during  the  season 
as  can  be  arranged." 

Suggestions. 

I  asked  the  stake  superintendents  to 
name  some  things  that  can  be,  and 
have  been,  done  socially  in  our  asso- 
ciations. I  gather  these  items  from 
their  replies: 

In  hundreds  of  wards  debates  were 
held;  and  in  some,  one  Tuesday  night 
of  each  month  was  set  apart  for  so- 
cials of  various  kinds. 

In  several  wards  reported  and  in 
one  or  two  stakes  a  professional  danc- 
ing teacher  was  employed  who  taught 
the  young  people  the  art  of  dancing 
under  the  officers'  direction  and  care. 
Good    came    of   this    venture;    the   de- 


1056 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


corum  of  the  dances  became  better, 
and  it  was  pleasing  to  note  the  im- 
provement in  the  grace  with  which 
the  boys  and  girls  danced. 

In  some  Salt  Lake  City  wards  the 
officers  took  their  classes  to  the  Des- 
eret  Gymnasium  for  a  swim;  in  others, 
in  different  parts  of  the  Church,  games 
of  all  kinds  were  played  in  the  ward 
halls  directed  by  the  class  leaders,  fol- 
lowed by  the  serving  of  light  refresh- 
ments. In  others,  the  class  teachers 
entertained  their  classes  at  their 
homes,  where  games,  and  plays  were 
engaged  in  and  sometimes  music,  reci- 
tation and  songs.  In  one  case  the  art 
of  learning  to  converse  intelligently 
upon  living  topics  of  interest  was 
mentioned. 

In  an  increasing  number  of  the 
stakes  an  annual  M.  I.  A.  "day" 
is  being  established  in  which  the 
young  people  engage  in  athletic 
sports,  and  games  of  all  kinds  and 
dancing,  musical,  oratorical,  and  story 
telling  contests,  and  give  literary  and 
religious  programs,  read  stories,  es- 
says and  poems,  and  present  lectures 
and  exercises  from  the  manuals.  This 
day  is  a  reflex  of  activities  and  exer- 
cises that  have  in  a  smaller  way_  en- 
gaged the  attention  of  the  associations 
in  the  wards  during  the  past  season. 

In  some  of  the  stakes  dramatic  clubs 
were  formed,  both  for  stake  and  ward 
performances.  The  wards  in  Granite 
Stake  sought  each  to  get  one  ^lay  and 
then  visit  among  all  the  wards  of  the 
stake  to  present  their  play.  In  this 
way  the  plan  was  to  have  each  ward 
enjoy  several  plays  and  only  prepare 
one.  The  stake  committee  visited  and 
aided  in  the  setting  and  presentation 
of  the  plays,  and  chose  a  different 
play  for  each  ward,  and  two  for  the 
stake.  The  people  who  attended  were 
well  satisfied,  and  it  was  believed  the 
scheme  would  eventually  prove  a  very 
great  success,  and  that  a  great  deal  of 
good  can  be  accomplished  in  this  par- 
ticular field. 

In  many  stakes  and  wards,  officers 
held  home  parties  at  the  president's 
home  or  the  home  of  an  officer.  For 
social  pleasure  and  education  these 
were  very  enjoyable.  One  city  with 
several  wards  reports  a  number  of 
splendid  socials  in  the  opera  house, 
gotten  up  for  all  that  could  be  reached, 
particularly  for  boys  and  girls  who 
feel  that  they  have  been  too  br.d  for 
consideration.  In  this  way  many  de- 
linquents have  fallen  in  love  with  the 


Mutuals  and  been  started  on  a  better 
way.  It  has  been  a  great  factor  in 
the  missionary  labor  of  redemption 
from  evil  ways — the  backbone  of  our 
organization's  efforts.  "We  like  to  get 
the  wayward  boy  to  feel  that  if  he  will 
live  right,  he  is  just  as  good  as  the 
best  man  in  the  country,  no  matter 
how  poor  in  worldly  toggs  the  boy 
may  be,"  writes  Supt.  Ernest  P.  Hors- 
ley. 

In  a  number  of  stakes  there  were 
canyon  trips,  meadow  outings  and 
lawn  parties  which  are  pronounced 
very  attractive  to  the  boys  and  girls 
where  properly  conducted  and  directed 
by  the  officers.  On  the  other  hand, 
in  many  of  the  stakes  there  is  no  at- 
tempt at  directing  these  outings  by 
the  M.  I.  A.  or  any  other  officers.. 
The  young  people  make  up  the  parties 
themselves — sometimes  they  result  in 
good  and  sometimes  in  evil.  Some- 
times older  people  go  along  as  direc- 
tors, but  often  the  young  people  go 
alone,  which  I  would  say  is  very  im- 
proper. 

In  some  stakes  there  were  inter- 
changes of  entertainment  by  the 
wards,  one  whole  ward  entertaining 
another,  the  program  consisting  of 
refreshments,  short  speeches,  songs 
and  dancing. 

In  some  wards,  halls  are  fitted  up 
where  basketball  may  be  played  un- 
der direction  of  the  officers;  clubs  are 
organized  for  this  game,  and  under 
proper  supervision  contests  with  other 
wards  are  arranged  for. 

It  will  be  seen  from  these  state- 
ments that  the  officers  of  our  organ- 
izations in  many  cases  are  actively  en- 
gaged in  social  affairs.  The  task  is  a 
heavy  one,  and  the  labors  and  respon- 
sibilities are  great.  In  a  sense  our  of- 
ficers stand  in  these  social  functions 
in  place  of  the  parent,  with  parents' 
duties  and  responsibilities  resting  up- 
on them.  Everything  that  can  be  said 
relating  to  the  duties  of  parents  in  the 
social  amusement,  government,  and 
control  of  their  children  may  be  said 
in  perhaps  a  modified  degree  of  our 
officers.  They  have  much  to  do  to 
form  public  opinion  in  these  respects. 
So  that  the  duties  of  children  to  par- 
ents relating  to  social  affairs  apply  to 
some  extent  also  to  our  officers. 

Chaperonage. 

A  word  should  be  said  as  to  ~hap- 
eronage  in  our  public  outings.  The 
common  sense  of  the  community  will 


PRELIMINARY  PROGRAMS  AND  SOCIAL  AFFAIRS. 


1057 


advise  how  far  the  custom  of  strict 
society  circles  should  govern  in  this 
matter,  or  where  more  liberal  inter- 
pretations should  be  given.  Affairs  in 
rural  neighborhoods  differ  from  those 
in  the  cities.  Chaperonage  need  not 
be  as  strict  in  the  country  as  it  should 
be  in  the  city.  What  is  safe,  sensible, 
and  refined  in  the  country,  in  any  par- 
ticular instance,  may  be  most  unsafe 
freedom  in  the  city,  where  all  circles 
are  constantly  invaded  by  new-comers 
and  transients  whose  record  is  un- 
known even  to  those  who  introduce 
them.  The  frank  friendliness  in  good 
form  in  the  country,  would  be  very 
unwise  and  a  great  mistake  in  the  city. 
I  am  free  to  confess  that  the  indif- 
ference of  parents  and  guardians  in 
permitting  young  girls  and  boys  to  go 
alone  to  dances,  pleasure  resorts,  and 
the  places  of  amusement  in  this  city 
is  appalling.  Go  to  any  pleasure  re- 
sort and  witness  for  yourself.  Here 
are  scores  of  young  girls  mixing  in 
the  amusements  or  taking  part  in  the 
dance  without  responsible  attendants 
to  supply  restriction  to  their  inexperi- 
ence. On  late  trains  from  the  lake 
you  will  find  the  conduct  of  this  class 
of  unrestricted  boys  and  girls  so  dis- 
gusting as  to  lower  one's  whole  esti- 
mate of  the  social  status  of  the  people. 
Young  ladies  go  to  certain  dance  halls 
which,  strange  to  say,  are  advertised 
as  respectable,  unaccompanied,  and 
young  men  of  all  classes  meet  them 
there,  and  are  permited  to  dance  with 
them  and  even  accompany  them  home. 
There  are  injudicious  picnics,  long, 
lonely  walks,  undesirable  excursions, 
abused  buggy  riding,  and  other  so- 
called  amusements  in  which  young 
people  of  tender  age  indulge  that 
should  never  be  permitted  by  parents, 
nor  desired  by  the  young  people.  Talk 
about  "mother's  wisdom  to  supply  the 
deficiencies  of  her  daughter's  inex- 
perience, mother's  love  to  enfold  her 
daughter  in  unspoken  sympathy, 
mother's  approbation  to  rest  upon  her 
dutiful  conduct  like  a  benediction!" — 
mothers  are  in  dangerous  sleep  to 
permit  such  untoward  conduct. 

It  is  not  desired  to  curtail  the  le- 
gitimate pleasures  of  any  person,  but 
for  the  sake  of  the  young  oeople 
themselves  they  should  be  willing  to 
act  in  all  cases  in  conformity  with 
good  usage.  No  girl  should  permit 
herself  to  go  alone  to  any  place  of 
amusement,  for  the  sake  of  her  own 
good  name. 


Of  course,  a  girl  goes  to  work  alone. 
It  is  accounted  both  lady-like  and 
praiseworthy  for  a  young  woman  who 
is  well  born  and  bred  to  support  her- 
self by  honorable  employment  that 
holds  her  to  business  hours,  and  th;s 
work  is  a  shield  and  protection  to  her 
from  impertinent  intrusion  during 
those  hours.  Her  destination  is  un- 
derstood, her  purpose  is  legitimate.  A 
girl  who  thus  alone  goes  to  work 
needs  no  guardian;  and  she  therefore 
often  comes  to  think  that  if  she  can 
go  alone  to  an  office,  she  can  as  well 
go  alone  to  a  theatre,  a  dance,  an  ex- 
cursion, or  a  drawing-room  party.  So 
she  goes;  but  she  makes  a  mistake, 
for  conditions  are  changed.  On  social 
occasions  she  appears  without  ihe 
shield  and  armor  of  her  work,  and 
therefore  she  needs  and  should  have  a 
watchful  guardian,  for  she  can  •  it 
defy  the  social  law  without  losing  the 
dignity  and  exclusiveness  that  char- 
acterizes the  well  bred  woman.  Men 
respect  most  the  guarded  girl,  think- 
ing her  worth  taking  care  of,  and  as 
something  with  which  they  dare  not 
be  unduly  familiar;  hough  they  act 
"smart"  with  the  girl  who  ignorantly 
goes  about  unattended.  A  girl  to  go 
alone  to  an  open  resort  or  a  public 
dance  must  have  an  unusual  measure 
of  native  dignity  and  innocence  to  es- 
cape the  "fresh"  mpertinence  of 
"smart"  men  and  boys  along  the 
streets,  and  who  have  gathered  at  the 
hall — men  whose  finer  sensibilities  are 
deadened  by  the  surfeit  of  over-indul- 
gence and  excess,  and  who  a  e  not 
worthy  of  good  society,  because  they 
have   lost  their  self-respect. 

Value  of  Out  Door  Activities. 

But  these  remarks  apply  to  the  in- 
dividual. There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
our  officers  should  engage  with  the 
young  people  in  their  amusements, 
particularly  in  their  public  socials.  In 
regard  to  the  value  of  out  door  social 
activities  nearly  all  the  superintend- 
ents are  agreed,  but  of  the  method  of 
chaperoning,  Supt.  Frank  Evans  of 
the  Ensign  Stake  strikes  the  keynote 
and  is  in  harmony  with  the  general 
idea.       He  says: 

"We  have  not  up  to  the  present  time 
had  out-door  social  affairs,  but  I  think 
this  could  be  made  a  very  profitable 
and  interesting  mode  of  entertain- 
ment during  the  summer,  and  on  such 
occasions  I  believe  it  would  be  well 
to  have  the  young  people  chaperoned. 


1058 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


I  would  not  have  them  made  con- 
scious of  the  fact  that  they  were  be- 
ing watched,  but  would  rather  inci- 
dentally arrange  for  the  presence  of 
the  older  people  with  them  to  take 
charge  of  their  excursions  and  at  the 
same  time  to  take  part  therein  with 
the  young  people." 

The  duty  of  our  associations  is 
made  clearer  by  a  statement  from  a 
superintendent  in  a  northern  stake: 

"Rarely  do  any  of  the  Mutuals  plan 
mountain  trips  or  other  outings.  But 
trips  of  the  kind  are  often  planned  by 
the  young  people  themselves,  inde- 
pendent of  any  organiaztion.  I  cannot 
say  how  they  are  chaperoned,  but  ru- 
mors sometimes  reach  us  that  the 
conduct  of  the  young  people  is  quite 
unbecoming." 

That  these  out-door  social  activities 
are  of  great  value  in  our  work  appears 
from  the  remarks  of  a  number  of 
superintendents: 

Jesse  M.  Baker  of  Teton:  "These 
socials  get  the  M.  I.  A.  workers  near- 
er together  and  the  effect  is  fine.  Our 
officers  act  as  chaperones." 

Ernest  P.  Horsley,  Brigham  City: 
"Our  outings  have  been  successful. 
We  approve  of  them.  The  canyon 
and  meadow  outings  are  very  attrac- 
tive to  our  boys  and  girls,  and  tend 
to  a  mutual  good  feeling.  We  think 
the  older  members  of  the  association 
should  go  along  on  these  and  other 
outings  to  act,  in  an  unknown  way,  as 
chaperones.  I  prefer  to  have  the 
young  people  with  the  older  members 
rather  than  with  someone  who  is  un- 
derstood to  be  watching  and  caring 
for  them  as  chaperones.  We  are  go 
ing  to  try  and  interest  our  boys  and 
girls  in  trips  near  home.  You  can 
put  us  down  as  against  stakes  going 
on  such  outings  as  to  the  lake,  and 
such  like,  far  trips,  under  conditions 
prevailing  in  the  past.  We  feel  that 
more  harm  than  good  has  come  of 
them  on  account  of  late  hours,  dark 
cars,"  etc. 

Now  in  all  our  outings  and  socials 
there  are  a  thousand  details  of  con- 
duct that  should  be  taught  and  ob- 
served, and  the  wise  officer  will  watch 
his  opportunity  to  impress  these  at 
the  right  time,  and  place  so  that  the 
members  may  improve  in  their  man- 
ners, conduct,  and  social  actions.  The 
key-note  is  to  be  agreeable.  Enjoy- 
ment is  enhanced  by  reciprocity,  and 
good  conduct  by  self-effort  and  self- 
respect. 


I  just  desire  to  say  a  word  on  a  so- 
sial  pleasure  which  is  much  neglected 
among  us — intelligent  conversation — 
"sweetest  banquet  of  the  mind."  Class 
teachers  and  other  officers  have  a 
large  field  for  doing  good  in  teach- 
ing the  joy  there  is  in  intelligent  con- 
versation. The  teacher  may  invite  his 
class  for  an  evening's  conversation  on 
books,  on  music,  on  art,  plays,  charm- 
ing people,  authors,  artists,  lectures, 
travel,  amateur  photography,  bicy- 
cling, golf,  tennis,  botanizing,  and  cur- 
rent news  of  the  valuable  kind.  One 
can  easily  see  what  a  field  lies  here 
before  us  in  discussing  these  topics, 
and  localizing  them  to  suit  the  needs 
and  intelligence  of  the  members. 
Proper  direction  of  current  conversa- 
tion would  soon  change  from  the  or- 
dinary street  corner,  and  gate  post 
chatter  to  such  topics  as  have  been 
named.  We  would  soon  learn  how 
vulgar  and  plebeian  common  gossip 
is,  and  how  useless  as  a  pastime. 
Dress,  domestics,  and  diseases  would 
be  dropped — and  loafer's  talks,  even 
worse  than  these,  would  fall  into  dis- 
use. We  would  learn  to  talk  of  things 
not  people;  or  if  we  spoke  of  persons 
we  would  speak  of  them  as  if  they 
were  present. 

Summary. 

To  summarize.  The  M.  I.  A.  can 
help  materially  in  forming  a  healthy 
public  opinion  on  social  affairs,  if  of- 
ficers are  made  use  of  in  ward  amuse- 
ment committees,  or  take  part  a.c 
they  should  in  helping  to  provide  for 
their  own  members,  legitimate  moral, 
mental,  and  physical  entertainment. 

We  call  for  a  strict  observance  of 
the  Sabbath  day,  but  demand  a  week 
day  for  recreation  and  sports,  believ- 
ing we  can  do  more  physical  work  and 
better  religious  labor,  if  this  be 
granted.  We  are  opposed  to  cards, 
and  every  other  game  of  chance,  even 
as  we  oppose  the  open  saloon  to 
which  cards  lead. 

We  favor  the  Church  owning  amuse- 
ment halls  and  grounds,  wherever 
possible,  and  believe  that  financial 
gain  should  not  be  the  leading  pur- 
pose in  the  conduct  of  entertainments. 

We  believe  in  having  a  good  time, 
but  not  in  overdoing  pleasure-seeking, 
for  our  desire  is  to  be  self-respecting, 
and  to  have  a  serious  object  in  life, 
being  dutiful  to  our  parents  and  use- 
ful to  the  community  and  to  ourselves. 


PRELIMINARY  PROGRAMS  AND  SOCIAL  AFFAIRS. 


1059 


As  officers  we  wish  to  get  closer  to 
the  boys  and  girls,  that  we  may  im- 
press them  with  self-respect,  and  the 
majesty  of  being  men  and  women  of 
consequence  in  the  world.  To  this 
end  we  desire  to  take  part  in,  and  di- 
rect to  the  best  advantage  their  rec- 
reations and  amusements;  we  have 
therefore  actively  engaged  in  a  vari- 
ety of  socials,  and  desire  to  do  even 
more  effective  work  in  these  lines. 

We  think  it  manly  and  womanly  to 
engage  in  conduct  that  is  above  re- 
proach, and  to  this  end  favor  such 
chaperonage  as  shall  best  suit  our 
conditions,  and  most  effectively  pro- 
mote the  welfare,  courtesy,  and  good 
behavior  and  manners  of  our  mem- 
bership. We  favor  clean  language; 
and  an  increasing  development  in  the 
power  of  conversation,  so  that  our 
minds  may  be  treasuries  of  entertain- 
ing stories,  timely  quotations,  and 
helpful  thoughts,  thus  enabling  us  to 
contribute  an  intelligent  part  to  what- 
ever subjects  may  arise  in  society  or 
life. 

In  short:  We  believe  strongly  in 
the  cultivation  of  religious  thought 
and  feeling.  We  seek  the  best  and 
most  vigorous  development  of  mind, 
morals,  and  muscle.  We  stand  for 
strict  social  purity,  innate  good  breed- 
ing, charm  of  manner  and  unfailing 
courtesy;  and  seek  to  impress  upon 
our  membership  the  eternal  principles 
of  kindness,  thoughtfulness,  unselfish- 
ness, and  the  proper  regard  for  the 
rights  and  feelings  of  others. 


BY  MRS.  ZINA  B.  CANNON. 

My  brethren  and  sisters,  I  feel  that 
Sister  Lovesy  and  Brother  Anderson 
have  covered  almost  every  point  that 
one  could  think  of  in  regard  to  social 
affairs;  so  I  can  only  give  a  little  of 
our  experience  in  the  Granite  Stake, 
and  possibly  speak  a  little  further  on 
some  points  that  have  impressed  me. 

The  president  of  our  stake  has  given 
the  presidency  of  the  Young  Ladies' 
and  the  superintendencv  of  the  Yjoung 
Mens'  association  charge  of  the 
amusements,  during  the  past  two 
years;  and  I  can  say,  from  our  ex- 
perience, that  I  feel  it  is  a  very  good 
thing  for  the  presidents  of  these  as- 
sociations to  have  charge  of  the 
amusements.  I  can  see  the  benefits  of 
it.  I  know  that  where  we  have  con- 
trol of  the  amusements  of  the  young 


people  we  have  more  influence  with 
them.  If  we  mingle  with  them  in 
their  amusements,  we  become  better 
acquainted  with  them,  and  a  fellow- 
ship grows  up  between  us  that  would 
not  otherwise  exist.  Consequently,  we 
have  more  influence  with  them  in  their 
regular  work;  and  I  feel,  too,  that 
their  amusements  are  quite  as  impor- 
tant as  their  regular  work.  There- 
fore, if  we  can  control  their  amuse- 
ments, we  are  doing  them  a  great 
good.  I  believe  that  in  our  amuse- 
ments we  should  be  guided  by  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord,  and  by  the  com- 
mandments of  the  Lord,  just  as  much 
as  in  our  work;  and  there  is  one  com- 
mandment that  was  not  mentioned 
this  morning  that  I  would  like  to  re- 
peat. It  is  found  in  the  88th  sec- 
tion of  the  Doctrine  and  Covenants, 
124th  verse:  "  *  *  Retire  to  thy 
bed  early,  that  ye  may  not  be  weary; 
arise  early,  that  your  bodies  and  your 
minds  may  be  invigorated."  I  feel 
that  in  our  amusements  we  break  this 
commandment  to  a  great  extent,  and 
I  wish  that  our  social  affairs  could  be 
so  arranged  that  we  would  not  have 
to  break  this  commandment  contin- 
ually. I  take  it  that  this  command- 
ment is  just  as  important  as  the  Word 
of  Wisdom.  Though  it  did  not  come 
in  the  section  known  as  the  Word  of 
Wisdom,  to  me  it  is  just  as  important 
as  any  one  that  comes  there;  and  if 
we  break  this  commandment,  it  is 
just  as  bad  as  using  tea  and  coffee,  or 
tobacco;  because  we  are  undermining 
our  health.  We  see  the  bad  effects 
of  it.  I  feel  the  bad  effects  of  it  my- 
self; I  see  it  in  young  people;  I  see 
it  in  my  own  daughters.  It  seems 
that  nearly  all  of  our  amusements  are 
at  night — and  late  at  night,  mostly, 
when  we  should  be  sleeping  and  rest- 
ing. I  know  that  the  next  day,  after 
the  young  people  have  been  out  late, 
they  are  weary  and  languid  and  unable 
to  perform  the  duties  of  life  as  they 
should.  I  feel  that  way  myself,  and  I 
notice  it  in  others.  I  know  that  many 
things  which  were  carried  on  in  the 
day  time,  heretofore,  are  taken  up  in 
the  evening.  One  instance — There  is 
the  commencement  exercises  of  our 
schools,  which  were  once  held  in  the 
morning;  they  are  now  nearly  all  held 
in  the  evening,  beginning  late,  eight 
o'clock,  and  very  often  half-past  eight, 
and  continuing  till  eleven  o'clock,  and 
sometimes  the  young  people  are  till 
twelve  o'clock  getting  to  bed.  It 
seems  to  me  that  this  is  entirely  un- 


1060 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


necessary,  and  that  wc  should  encour- 
age anything  that  could  be  had  in  the 
day  time  instead  of  at  night,  when  we 
should  rest. 

I  want  to  speak  especially  of  danc- 
ing, as  in  our  stake  we  have,  under  the 
encouragement  and  assistance  of  our 
president,  endeavored  to  make  some 
changes  in  dancing.  If  I  understand  it 
correctly,  dancing  should  promote 
health  and  strength,  and  grace  of 
body;  but  it  seems  to  me  that  the  way 
in  which  it  is  carried  on,  very  often, 
these  things  are  not  promoted.  In  the 
first  place,  our  young  people  begin  to 
dance  just  when  they  should  retire; 
and  I  think  that  physical  exercise,  tak- 
en when  the  body  should  be  resting, 
will  not  promote  the  health  and 
strength  of  the  body.  Again,  the  danc- 
ing is  carried  on,  very  often,  in  crude, 
ill  ventilated  rooms,  with  high  heels, 
tight  shoes,  and  tight  clothing.  Any 
one  who  knows  anything  about  physi- 
cal culture  will  know  that  this  is  not 
conducive  to  the  development  of  the 
body.  I  know  that  when  I  was  a  girl 
I  always  felt  tired  and  worn  out  the 
next  day,  after  going  to  a  dancing 
party,  and  I  know  that  my  own  daugh- 
ters do.  Therefore,  I  do  not  think 
that  it  develops  their  health  and 
strength.  I  know  that  the  most  en- 
joyable dancing  I  ever  engaged  in  was 
in  a  physical  culture  class,  conducted 
by  Miss  Babcock,  where  we  dressed 
hygienically  and  took  our  exercises  in 
a  well  ventilated  room,  not  in  close 
contact  with  other  people.  I  think 
our  dance,  too,  has  anything  but  the 
good  moral  effect  that  it  should  have; 
and  it  does  not  always  develop  grace 
either.  Many  of  you,  likely,  have  ob- 
served dancing  which  has  been  very 
disgusting  to  you  on  account  of  the 
attitudes  assumed  by  those  dancing. 
It  is  not  pleasing  to  see;  and  you 
would  know  that  such  dancing  would 
not  develop  good  grace,  or  good  feel- 
ing, or  moral  feeling  in  the  minds  of 
the  young  people.  I  would  say  that 
in  our  stake  we  have  been  endeavor- 
ing to  overcome  these  things.  Last 
year  we  engaged  a  teacher  from  the 
University  of  Utah,  Miss  Delaney,  to 
teach  young  people  who  came  from 
the  various  wards  to  the  stake  taber- 
nacle, once  a  week,  one  hour,  eight  to 
nine  o'clock;  and  we  expected  these 
young  people  to  take  home  the  things 
that  they  learned  and  teach  them  to 
the  young  people  in  their  own  wards. 
She,  of  course,  taught  them  proper 
dancing,   and   gave   them   new   dances. 


There  is  so  much  monotony  about  our 
dancing  today.  This  is  unnecessary, 
because  there  are  so  many  new  dances 
that  can  be  introduced.  I  think,  too, 
that  dancing  should  encourage  socia- 
bility; but  where  they  engage  in 
round  dances  all  the  time,  sociability 
is  not  developed  as  it  should  be,  be- 
cause they  do  not  mingle  together  as 
they-  should.  This  teacher  taught 
them  many  dances  where  they  could 
mingle  together,  have  a  jolly  time, 
and  get  acquainted  with  everybody. 
I  think  our  young  people  should  be 
encouraged  to  take  their  pleasure,  at 
least  some  of  their  pleasure  and 
amusements,  in  their  own  homes,  not. 
alone  with  those  whom  they  invite, 
but  with  father,  mother,  brothers,  and 
sisters.  It  seems  to  me  that  some  of 
our  young  people  go  so  much,  and 
mingle  in  other  society  so  much  that 
they  are  strangers  to  their  fathers  and 
mothers,  their  brothers  and  sisters. 
They  feel  as  though  they  may  come 
there  only  for  duty,  and  to  eat,  and 
sleep,  and  get  wearing  apparel,  and 
then  go  away  again  for  pleasure  and 
amusement.  One  thing  especially,  in 
our  stake,  which  I  think  will  counter- 
act this  to  some  extent,  we  use  Tues- 
day evening  as  Home  Evening.  That 
evening,  the  family  gather  around  the 
family  altar,  or  fireside,  and  enjoy  the 
evening  together, — that  is,  if  they  car- 
ry out  the  instructions  of  the  stake 
authorities.  I  know  it  has  been  very 
successfully  carried  out  by  some  fam- 
ilies. I  have  heard  them  express 
themselves  that  they  would  not  lose 
their  Home  Evening  meeting.  They 
not  only  teach  the  gospel  to  one  an- 
other, but  they  have  games  together, 
amusements,  and  engage  in  conversa- 
tion, as  Brother  Anderson  has  sug- 
gested. I  think  every  young  person 
should  be  encouraged  to  develop  some 
accomplishment  by  which  he  or  she 
can  entertain  others.  Sister  Lovesy 
touched  upon  this;  that  the  one  who 
sits  in  the  corner  is  the  one  who  does 
not  have  a  good  time.  I  believe  that 
every  young  person  has  a  talent  which 
should  be  developed,  by  which  she  can 
entertain  others;  and  the  person  who 
entertains  is  the  happy  person :_but  the 
person  who  has  no  accomplishment 
and  can  not  entertain  any  one  else  is 
the  one  who  is  most  miserable  in  com- 
pany. 

I  remember  when  I  was  young,  and 
I  know  it  is  so  now,  especially  in 
our  outlying  districts,  that  dancing  is 
the  principal  amuesment,  and  that  we 


PRELIMINARY  PROGRAMS  AND  SOCIAL  AFFAIRS. 


1061 


indulge  mainly  in  amusements  which 
appeal  only  to  the  outward  senses. 
But,  it  seems  to  me,  that  the  amuse- 
ments can  appeal  to  the  intellect,  to 
the  aesthetic  nature,  and  can  develop 
us  in  those  respects.  They  certainly 
do  develop  whether  we  want  them  to 
or  not;  they  either  develop  in  the 
way  I  have  just  stated,  or  the  oppo- 
site. We  can  just  as  well  enjoy  our- 
selves, and  at  the  same  time  become 
cultured  and  developed;  therefore,  I 
think  we  should  have  story  telling 
contests,  and  debating,  as  well  as  all 
kinds  of  amusements;  and  let  us  see 
to  it  that  every  young  person  in  the 
village  or  town  is  brought  out,  and 
their  talents  developed;  give  them  a 
chance  to  develop  that  which  is  in 
them. 

I  pray  that  the  blessings  of  the 
Lord  may  be  with  us,  and  that  His 
blessings  may  attend  us  in  our  amuse- 
ments,— in  the  name  of  Jesus.  Amen. 


BY   MRS.  RACHEL  GRANT  TAYLOR. 

My  brethren  and  sisters,  There  is 
but  one  thought  that  comes  to  my 
mind.  We  have  heard  how  much  our 
young  people  need  these  amusements, 
and  I  wanted  to  dwell  on  the  thought 
— how  much  we  need  the  amusements, 
in  order  to  sympathize  and  work  with 
the  young  people  as  we  should  in  their 
regular  class  work.  In  our  associa- 
tions we  have  so  many  different  peo- 
ple to  consider.  Of  course,  I  am  ac- 
quainted with  the  Young  Ladies'  asso- 
ciation, especially.  You  have  young  ladies 
from  fourteen  up  in  your  association. 
There  is  a  dear,  old  sister,  sixty  or  sev- 
enty, who  hardly  ever  misses  one  of  our 
meetings.  There  are  all  these  different 
people  to  be  satisfied — not  only  in  lesson 
work  but  in  amusements.  In  our  lesson 
work,  we  are  divided  into  classes,  so 
that  we  can  meet  the  needs  of  every 
one  of  our  different  members;  and  I 
feel  that  a  step  should  be  taken  in  the 
direction  of  meeting  this  requirement 
in  our  amusements.  We  have  a  party, 
and  probably,  as  Sister  Cannon  says, 
it  is  a  dancing  party.  There  is  only 
a  certain  class  of  our  association  that 
would  really  have  an  enjoyable  time 
there.  I  feel  that  we  as  class  leaders 
cannot  do  our  work  properly  unless 
we  have  amusements  for  our  own 
classes.  We  cannot  get  to  know  our 
pupils  in  our  class  work  as  we  will 
if  we  work  with  them  in  a  social  way, 
and  in  working  with  them  in  this  so- 


cial way,  let  the  ones  you  should  work 
with  do  most  of  the  work.  In  this 
way  you  get  to  know  more  of  their 
natures  and  of  their  needs,  and 
you  can  help  them  out  better  in  the 
class  work.  I  like  the  term  "class 
leader,"  and  I  want,  also,  that  we 
should  be  social  leaders  in  our  classes 
— gather  the  girls  around  us;  take 
them  to  our  own  homes.  There  is  a 
different  feeling,  some  way,  when  we 
take  them  to  our  homes  and  make 
them  feel  that  welcome  there.  In 
some  of  our  cities,  I  have  noticed, 
there  grows  up  class  distinction,  and 
this  we  must  break  down.  We  have 
things  of  this  nature  to  battle  against, 
in  the  city,  which  you  do  not  have  in 
the  country  districts.  Again,  our  mem- 
bership changes,  the  great  majority, 
year  after'  year,  and  as  they  come  to 
us  in  some  of  our  big  associations  in 
the  city,  it  means  that  practically  half 
of  our  enrollment  are  people  we  have 
never  seen.  We  have  to  get  acquaint- 
ed with  them  and  learn  their  tastes 
and  their  needs.  We  want  to  learn 
the  needs  of  these  people,  and  mingle 
with  them,  and  bring  them  into  our 
homes.  We  must  make  them  feel  that 
they  are  on  an  equality;  that  we  are 
all  brothers  and  sisters.  We  can  do 
it  in  this  way,  as  I  said,  and  carry 
on  our  class  work  proper,  and  meet 
the  needs  and  aim  of  our  Mutual  Im- 
provement work — to  build  up  a  testi- 
mony of  the  gospel;  we  must  do  that. 
So,  we  need  this  social  work  more, 
probably,  to  our  own  advancement  and 
to  prepare  us  the  way  we  should  be 
prepared  and  qualified  to  carry  on  this 
work  successfully — I  say,  we  need 
these  amusements,  perhaps,  more  than 
they  do  themselves;  and  I  hope  that 
we  may  have  that  spirit.  I  hope  that 
we  may  keep  young,  with  the  young 
people,  for  it  is  only  in  this  way  that 
we  can  win  their  hearts  and  confi- 
dence. No  amount  of  preaching  to 
them,  and  giving  them  their  lessons, 
will  accomplish  this  without  that  feel- 
ing that  you  sympathize  with  them; 
that  you,  can  understand  the  junior 
class,  for  example,  some  night  when 
they  get  the  "giggles."  That  is  what 
we  have  to  understand.  Stern  words 
will  not  help;  we  must  remember  the 
time  when  we  were  junior  girls.  This 
social  work,  and  having  them  help  us 
in  our  socials  will  do  it  as  nothing 
else  can. 

May  God  help  us  in  this  work,  I 
ask,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 


Messages  from  the  Missions. 

Elder  Andrew  Funk,  of  the  Aarhus  conference,  Denmark,  gives  an 
account  of  the  annual  spring  conference  held  at  Aarhus  on  the  first  and 
second  of  April,  at  which  Mission  President  Andrew  Jenson  and  twenty- 
one  elders  attended.  It  was  reported  that  35,108  homes  had  been  visited 
with  tracts,  of  which  85,008  had  been  distributed.  Of  books,  1,469 
were  sold  or  given  away.  There  had  been  3,637  gospel  conversations, 
2, 147  re-invitations  to  homes  of  non-members,  and  sixty  baptisms,  dur- 
ing the  half  year  just  passed.  The  branch  has  a  splendid  choir  of  forty 
members,  under  the  leadership  of  Elder  Andrew  M.  Anderson.  The  choir 
gave  a  fine  concert  and  evening  entertainment  at  the  close  of  the  con- 
ference. "The  opposition  is  using  the  press  to  spread  the  old  yarns 
about  us,  and  a  Pastor  Thorsen  is  traveling  around  with  magic  lantern 
lectures  for  the  purpose  of  'unveiling'  'Mormonism.'  However,  in  spite 
of  the  efforts  of  the  adversary,  the  work  continues  to  prosper,  and  the 
Lord  is  blessing  our  labors.     The  Saints  are  faithful  and  show  a  wonder 


ful  hospitality,  the  elders  all  being  provided  for  during  the  conference, 
free.  We  have  many  friends  and  the  prospect  for  the  future  is  very 
bright."  The  elders,  reading  from  left  to  right,  are,  back  row:  John  E. 
Christensen,  Peter  Hansen,  Chr.  Nielsen,  Fred  C.  Mickelsen,  J.  Lyman 
Nielsen,  Martin  Peterson,  Niels  P.  Jensen  (visiting)  Anton  Cramer. 
Second  row:  James  R.  Paystrup,  Chr.  Jensen,  Carl  M.  Gjettrup,  Erastus 
Rismussen,  Erastus  J.  Christiansen,  Anders  C.  Petersen,  Andrew  M. 
Andersen.  Third  row:  August  0.  Nielsen,  Michael  Hansen,  Alma  Peter- 
sen, Andrew  Jenson  (Mission  President),  Andrew  Funk  (Conference 
President),  N.Claudius  Hoist  (Secretary),  Andrew  P.  Nielson.  In  front: 
HilmarM.  Nielsen,  and  Eric  Ludvigsen. 


I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  i  1  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  1  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I 


I  TACKLE 


AND  EVERYTHING  FOR  EVERY 

SPORT  IN  EVERY  SEASON 

Send  postal  for  150  Page 

Catalog — it  is  Free 


Browning  Bros.  Co.  ■■ 

OGDEN,  UTAH    \\ 
•i  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  i  I  e  It  M  I  C  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I 


WE  PAY  6$ 


0 


PER  ANNUM  INTEREST  ON  DEPOSITS 

Commercial  Savings  Benefit  Co. 

20 1  Constitution  Building,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 
D.  J.  WILLIAMS,  Manager 


To  California 


VIA 


Only  24  hours  to  reach  the  land  of 
SUNSHINE  AND  ORANGES 

THE  AMERICAN  EXPRESS,  leaving 
Salt  Lake  City  at  3:00  p.  m.,  ar- 
riving- Los  Angeles   2:30  p.  m. 

THE  LOS  ANGELES  LIMITED,  leav- 
ing- Salt  Lake  City  at  5:00  p.  m., 
arriving  Los  Angeles  4:30  p.  m. 

Handling  through  standard  and 
Tourist  electric  lighted  sleepers, 
and  dining  car  service  of  the  high- 
est order. 

THE  OVERLAND  LIMITED,  leav- 
ing Salt  Lake  City  11:50  p.  m., 
handling  Day  Coaches,  Free  Re- 
clining Chair  Cars,  Standard  and 
Tourist  Sleepers  and  Diner. 

See    Agent,    No.    169    Main    St.,    for 
rates  and  reservations,  or  write 

T.   C.   PECK,   G.  P.  A., 

Las    Angeles. 

J.  H.  MANDERFIELD,  A.  G.  P.  A., 

Salt  Lake.  . 


ELECTRIC 
BLOCK 
SIGNAL 
PROTECTION 

When  You  Travel 

EAST 

VIA 


n  The  Overland  Route" 

Four  trains  daily  over  one  of  the 
best  ballasted  tracks  in  the  coun- 
try in  the  most  comfortable  cars 
money  and  care  can  provide. 

This  assures  -  - 

TRAVEL  COMFORT 
TRAVEL  SAFETY 


City 

Ticket 

Office 

Hotel 

Utah 


(Wfaen  writ  in*  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  BRA.) 


Koffe-et 


MT[  Is  a  drink  for  careful,  thoughtful  people.  It 
j]  has  a  delicious,  satisfying  flavor,  but  at  the 
same  time  it  has  the  food  elements  a  person  needs 
for  perfect  health.  People  who  use  Koffe-et 
regularly  are  not  nervous  and  irritable.  Try  it 
for  yourself. 


"It  Builds  You  Up" 

25c  A  PACKAGE  ALL  GROCERS 


** 


QUALITY!" 

The  secret  of  our  great  success. 

YOU  are  protected  and  satisfied  when  YOU  insist  on  having 

Ghocolates 


MADE  IN  THE  BIG,  CLEAN  MODERN. 
FACTORY,  AT 

Send  ioc  stamps  for  PJROVO,     UT^LH 

irmpre'se.ndarand  "The  (Bandy  Gity" 


TRUE  FRAGRANCE  OF 
FRESH  CUT  ROSES 


Becoming  the  great  National 
Seller.  Jobbers  and  Brokers. 

Write  us  about  Territory. 


I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  II  II  I  I  II  I  I 


:   EVERYTHING  FOR  THE  FARM 

\       Exclusive  Agents  for  Franklin,  Velie  and  Overland  Automobiles. 


CONSOLIDATED  WAGON  &  MACHINE  CO. 


LEADING    IMPLEMENT    VEHICLE  HARDWARE  AND 


AUTOMOBILE  DEALERS 


Utah,  Idaho.\fyoming  &Nevada  GEO.  T.  ODELL,  General  Mana<3er 

l  I  I  l  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  |  |  |  M  |  |  |  |  |  ||  |  M 


(When  writing  to  Advertiiere,  please  mention  the  BRA.)